Founded 1897

Zionist Organization of America

ZOA President Morton A. Klein and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) CONGRESSCONGRESS LISTENSLISTENS TOTO ZOAZOA

Top: Sen. Rand Paul (R- KY) Left: Cong. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)

Sen. Mark Kirk Sen. Benjamin Cong. Brad Sherman Sen. Ron Johnson Cong. Brendan Boyle (R-IL) Sasse (R-NE) (D-CA) (R-WI) (D-PA) DON'T MISS ZOA'S SUPERSTAR GALA! Louis D. Brandeis Dinner | Sunday, November 23 | Grand Hyatt Hotel, NYC

JON VOIGHT HONORABLE DR. MIRIAM AND JACK HALPERN PROF. ALAN MORTIMER HONORABLE Adelson Award RON DERMER SHELDON Brandeis Award DERSHOWITZ ZUCKERMAN DANNY DANON Academy Shillman Award ADELSON Distinguished Mort Zuckerman Presenter Israel’s Award -Winning Israeli Amb. Presenters Businessman, Award Past Chair, Conf. Ambassador Actor, Activist to the United Global Philanthropist, Harvard Law of Pres. of Major to the United Christian Zionist States Philanthropists Activist, Zionist School Amer. Jewish Nations Organizations FALL 2015 Table of Contents

12 Center for Law 5 and Justice Capitol Hill 3 Pro-Israel Mission President’s Message 22 Capitol Hill Pro-Israel 18 Mission Pictorial Gov’t 26 Relations ZOA Department Campus

30 33 26 ZOA People: Israel Mort Klein Keynotes Jim Pollack Ofce Several Conferences

Morton A. Klein Published by the President Zionist Organization of America Dr. Michael Goldblatt Board Chair Email: [email protected] Website: www.zoa.org 38 Irwin Hochberg Around the Vice Chair, Board 212.481.1500 Country Dr. Alan Mazurek Vice Chair, Board Design: Josh Teplow Mark Levenson, Esq. Art Director National Secretary 48 Henry Schwartz ZOA Policy National Treasurer Briefs Bart Blatstein Associate Treasurer David Drimer National Executive Director

2 President’s Message

President Obama’s Troubling Attitude Toward Radical Islam

Critics repeatedly claim that the reason PA despite this, even though Hamas’ charter President Barack Obama agreed to a cata- calls for the destruction of Israel and the mur- MORTON strophic nuclear deal with Iran is his naiveté, der of every Jew! A. KLEIN his ineptness, and his being out-negotiated. That didn’t surprise me, since during a President, Does Obama’s record validate that thesis? Or meeting I attended at the White House with Zionist Organization is there evidence that President Obama’s feel- Jewish leaders, President Obama stated that of America ings toward Islamism may require a diferent we “Jews should speak to your Israeli friends conclusion? and relatives and search your souls to see if President Obama attended Pastor Jeremi- you’re serious about peace...you and the Is- ah Wright’s anti-America, anti-Israel church raelis think since Israel’s economy is good, for 20 years while calling Wright a “great man there’s little terrorism, so peace is overrated... and my mentor.” Obama helped organize but Mahmoud Abbas and the PA are sincere radical Muslim racist Louis Farrahkan’s Million about peace.” [Mahmoud Abbas is a Holo- Man March in Washington – but refused to at- caust denier who with Yasser Arafat co-found- tend the four million man march against radi- ed the terrorist group Fatah] cal Islamic terrorism in Paris. Obama’s closest What other Arab groups did Obama side friends include Rashid Khalidi, a Columbia with? When he gave his frst major speech on professor and extremist anti-Israel activist. the Middle East in Cairo, he invited the Muslim Although Obama has called American po- Brotherhood, an outlawed terrorist group, to lice and much of America racist, he has re- attend, despite pleadings against this from US fused to ever utter the term “Islamic terrorist” ally Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. When when jihadists murdered eighteen U.S. sol- Mubarak was forced from ofce, why did diers in Ford Hood and Tennessee and said Obama embrace the terrorist Muslim Broth- Although nothing when two Islamic terrorists attempt- erhood who came to power, but was cold to Obama has ed to murder hundreds of Americans at a Mohammed cartoon drawing event in Texas. called American He’s even ordered all ofcial military and US police and much government documents to delete such terms. It may surprise you to learn that during of America his frst campaign for president, Obama said racist, he has Islamic terrorist groups “Hamas and Hezbol- lah...have legitimate claims” (NY Times, May refused to ever 16, 2008). And during the latest Hamas war utter the term against Israel, Obama sent Hamas $47 mil- lion, urged Israel to accept an early ceasefre, “Islamic terror- refused sending critical arms to Israel for sev- ist” when jihad- eral days and unnecessarily stopped US com- mercial fights to Israel for a short period. ists murdered Moreover, President Obama not only eighteen U.S. didn’t condemn the Palestinian Authority (PA) for forming an alliance with Hamas but pro- soldiers in Ford claimed he was going to continue funding the Hood...

3 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Why did new moderate Egyptian president, Abdel Fa- inspecting non-designated nuclear facilities, tah al-Sisi? demands the US and others help Iran protect President Furthermore, why did Obama publicly its facilities from sabotage, and provides hun- Obama make support rallies to oust US ally Mubarak from dreds of billions of dollars in sanctions relief ofce yet refused to support rallies to oust which will surely be used to fund and arm ter- a deal with the genocidal, anti-American, anti-Israel presi- rorist groups around the world, causing a dra- the radical dent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of the Islamic matic increase in Islamic terrorism? Republic of Iran, America’s enemy? He was Why did Obama leak Israel’s secret agree- Islamic terror- also silent about continuous Iranian rallies, ment with Azerbaijan to allow Israeli war- ist state of Iran even after the nuclear agreement was fnal- planes to refuel there during a possible attack ized, calling for “Death to America and Israel” on Iran’s nuclear facility, sabotaging any Israe- that doesn’t while Iran vowed support for Hamas, Hezbol- li attempt to destroy Iran’s nuclear program? dismantle lah, and Syria. The former Saudi Arabia ambassador to the Obama also said nothing about Iran's exe- US said Obama knowingly made a bad agree- their nuclear cuting 1,000 political dissidents a year, execut- ment, while renowned African American intel- program, al- ing gays, imprisoning journalists, and closing lectual, Thomas Sowell, of Stanford’s Hoover dozens of opposition newspapers. Obama Institute, wrote that the Iran deal “requires us lows nuclear even ignored the four innocent Americans to think the unthinkable, that we have elected weapons in 10 languishing and being tortured in Iranian pris- a man for whom America’s best interests are ons. Maybe this shouldn’t have been surpris- not his top priority." years or less, ing, since Obama delayed US votes on sanc- Is it really a wonder that we’re hardly fght- and requires 24 tions on Iran for over a year, fought against ing the radical terrorist group ISIS by only additional sanctions, and didn’t fully imple- fying 13 bombing raids a day against them, days or more ment the sanctions that the US Congress when military ofcials say the way to destroy of lead time passed. ISIS is by fying hundreds of raids a day, as we When it came to Islamic terrorists in Guan- did against Iraq? for inspecting tanamo prison, he released many of them de- In light of all this and more, maybe we non-desig- spite experts designating them as “high risk” should have expected President Obama to to commit future terrorist attacks. Moreover, proclaim at his UN speech on September 25, nated nuclear he released fve Islamic terrorist leaders of the 2012, “The future must not belong to those facilities? Taliban in return for one US deserter, Bowe who slander the prophet of Islam.” Bergdahl. Why? Also, President Obama has As the great two-time Nobel prize-winning sent radical Islamists like Salam Al-Marayati chemist Linus Pauling used to say to me after and Feisal Abdul Rauf on speaking tours to we had analyzed data from an experiment: represent the United States. This is despite "Mort, what does the evidence require us to the fact that Marayati called for Israeli’s de- believe?" struction, said Israel may be responsible for I am now compelled to ask: "What does all 9-11 and defended the rights of Holocaust the evidence about President Obama’s actions deniers – while Rauf said US policies are an require us to believe about the President and “accessory” to the 9-11 attacks, that “the US radical Islam?" The evidence requires us to had more Muslim blood on its hands than painfully conclude that President Barack Hus- Al Qaeda has on its hands of non-Muslims," sein Obama is sympathetic to radical Islam. refused to condemn Hamas, and speaks of a “Sharia-compliant America.” Why did President Obama make a deal with the radical Islamic terrorist state of Iran that doesn’t dismantle their nuclear program, allows nuclear weapons in 10 years or less, Morton A. Klein requires 24 days or more of lead time for National President

4 Capitol Hill Pro-Israel Mission

Above: ZOA delegates listen to Gary Bauer, President of “American Values” and a director at Christians United For Israel

Largest Group in ZOA History on Capitol Hill to Fight Iran Deal Which Gives Iran Nukes and $100 Billion Also Lobbied Against US Aid to PA/Hamas Regime

Many hundreds of strong and proud ZOA of 2015, introduced by Senator Bob Corker activists from 26 states across the country, (R-TN), Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and including California, Arizona, Illinois, Michi- Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), and thanked the gan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, New 53 co-sponsors of this legislation. This bill al- Jersey, Texas, Florida, DC, Virginia, and Mary- lows Congress to review and vote on any fnal land, participated in the Zionist Organization Iran nuclear deal before sanctions are lifted of America’s annual Pro-Israel Advocacy Mis- against Iran. sion to Washington D.C. on Tuesday, April 2) They urged their House Members to 28th. These committed Zionist activists met pass H.R. 1191, companion to S.615, to be in- with almost 100 members of Congress or troduced by House Majority Leader Kevin Mc- their stafers. Carthy (R-CA). 1) They urged their Senators to support 3) They urged all members to cut all $440 S.615, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act million per year in funding to the PA until

5 CAPITOL HILL PRO-ISRAEL MISION

Cong.Ted Poe (R-TX)

ZOA delgates, led by Len Getz, Philadelphia ZOA treasurer, “It is so they fulfll their written commitments, to meet with Cong. Ryan Costello (R-PA) end incitement in their schools, media and inspiring to speeches, to outlaw terror groups, to end the ZOA and their alliance with Hamas, to arrest terror- ists, to stop paying pensions to Jew killers U.S./Israel relations, and educating Members our delegates and their families, specifcally to reward of Congress about the truth about the on- to hear these them for their monstrous atrocities, to put going Arab war against Israel, which seeks Is- Israel on their maps, and to accept Israel as rael’s destruction, not any sort of negotiated fabulous, pro- a Jewish State. settlement. Israel speeches At ZOA’s spectacular luncheon, held prior “This year the most critical issue facing to congressional meetings in a magnifcent Israel, the United States, and the world is by the most Baronial Chamber in the Russell Senate Ofce the catastrophic horror of the Islamic Re- important Building, ZOA activists were joined and inter- public of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. acted with numerous Democratic and Repub- But not only that, this deal will provide Members of lican US Senators, House Members, and two Iran with $100 billion per year in additional Congress...” top Mideast Policy analysts from the Washing- revenues from sanctions relief which will ton Institute for Near East Policy and American be used to fund and arm increased Islamic Values. terrorism against Israel, Christians, and ZOA National President Morton ZOA National President Morton A. Klein the United States and Europe. After all, A. Klein said, “It is so inspiring to the ZOA and our Iran is the largest sponsor of Islamic ter- delegates to hear these fabulous, pro-Israel rorism today. Shockingly, this deal actually speeches by the most important Members funds today’s Hitler, Ayatollah Khamenei, of Congress, which included ranking mem- Iran’s supreme leader. Tragically, Presi- bers of both the Senate and House Foreign dent Obama has absolutely refused to link Relations Committees and a presidential can- this deal with Iran ending terrorism and didate. One delegate after another made it Iran ending calls for America’s and Israel’s clear to me that they were thrilled to spend a destruction.” day in their lives fghting for Israel, for strong Below is a sampling of comments by

6 CAPITOL HILL PRO-ISRAEL MISION

ZOA delgates after a long day of lobbying

ZOA Director of Development Howard Katzof, Gary Bauer, President of “American Values,” and Senator Ben Cardin “Tank you for Patti Klein D-Maryland having the guts Ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to have a strong some of our speakers: “We are seeing a growing amount of acts organization by citizens of anti-Semitism all across Europe. Senator Rand Paul I am glad to say that the Senate Finance Com- that says you R-Kentucky, mittee approved the trade bill to make sure shouldn’t be Presidential Candidate that none of the European countries support “I don’t think every war is the answer, BDS. We have a chance to prevent Iran from sending money but I would have been involved before becoming a nuclear weapons state and we to Palestinian 9/11 and certainly wanted to go after Bin must stay focused on that objective.” Laden afterward. I introduced a declara- terrorists.” tion of war against ISIS. These people that Senator Mark Kirk surround Israel are not people we should R-Illinois Senator be giving weapons to. The response we “We need to make sure the state of Israel Rand Paul get from Iran—if we can’t even agree survives, to assure continued bipartisan con- upon what we are trying to agree upon— sensus against a nuclear Iran.” that gives me pause. Shouldn’t there be a discussion about terrorism and ballis- Senator Ron Johnson tic missiles too? The president said when R-Wisconsin asked if he expects Iran to end their spon- “Negotiations with Iran were lost before sorship of terrorism: ‛Well, they probably they began. When you start a negotiation to still are going to participate in terror- relax sanctions, what is there left to negoti- ism.΄ Thank you for having the guts to ate? If you are going to weaponize your nucle- have a strong organization that says you ar program, you do it on your military bases, shouldn’t be sending money to Palestin- but we are not allowed to inspect those. Snap- ian terrorists.” back is impossible—hundreds of billions of

7 CAPITOL HILL PRO-ISRAEL MISION

ZOA Board Vice Chair Dr. Alan Mazurek and other delgates meet with Senator Schumer's (D-NY) stafer

“Mort was dollars will have been invested in businesses ter of Israel Netanyahu to speak last month. there to see in Iran. There is no peaceful nuclear program. I declared the Iranian nuclear program the The Iranians want a weapon to wack the re- number one threat facing the security of the me walk down gion and wack the world.” US. According to this deal, Iran gets its hands the aisle with on hundreds of billions of dollars. You can Senator Ben Sasse only imagine what they will do with it. Sure, my beautiful R-Nebraska a little chunk will go to their people, and then bride, and he “Obama aspires to see Iran become a suc- the rest will go to terrorists and militias. Why cessful regional player – but why would we don’t we have our US embassy in the national also watched want them to be successful? They are sworn capital of Jerusalem? Anti-Semitism is not only me walk down to the destruction of Israel and America. There in Europe but here on our campuses, Title can be no nuclear Iran. Iran should have zero VI of the Civil Rights Act now applies to dis- the aisles centrifuges! We always had a treaty process crimination against Jews based on a bill I in- of Congress that takes two branches of government. There troduced.” is no reason to abandon this. A president is escorting not like the king. If you think this, you don’t get PM of Israel the American system of government. An Iran Congressman Ted Poe treaty needs 67 votes because this is a bilat- R-Texas Netanyahu eral long-term policy and it is based on con- “We have a game in Texas we play called to speak last sensus.” Texas Hold ’em. Iran is the cool player. The P5+1 got nervous and folded. Iran will get the month.” pay-of in ten years with the nuke. The West Cong. Brad Sherman has been had by this deal. The pot of gold Cong. Brad D-California is not gold but nuclear weapons. How in the Sherman “So happy to be here with Mort Klein be- world can anyone trust the Iranian govern- cause this last decade Mort was there to see ment? And their mischief is still all over the me walk down the aisle with my beautiful world – they are in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon – what bride, and he also watched me walk down the are they doing there? They are the world’s aisles of Congress escorting the Prime Minis- great sponsor of terrorism. They have their

8 CAPITOL HILL PRO-ISRAEL MISION

terrorist mischief minions everywhere. We need more sanctions against them.”

Congressman Mario Diaz–Balart R-Florida “I never thought I would see our President meet with Castro for an hour, but have no time to meet with the Prime Minister of Israel. I never thought we would see the President criticize the most loyal, the best, most digni- fed ally we have. I have a deal for Iran; it’s very simple. Iran cannot have a nuclear pro- gram. These are the people we think we can persuade to become a force of stability in the Middle East? Your presence has never been ZOA delegates Stephanie and Wendy Woloshin, Philadephia ZOA members more crucial, and do not be apologetic. There is evil in this world. And all the evil Iran is do- ing right now they are doing without nuclear weapons. Imagine what they would do with America we need to be.” “We always had them. We will not let that happen.” a treaty process Congressman Brendan Boyle D-Pennsylvania that takes two Congressman Lee Zeldin “I am disturbed that the UN is being used branches of R-New York as a tool to delegitimize the State of Israel. I “My great-grandfather was feld director of sponsored the Holocaust Education bill. The government. ZOA under Brandeis. All Republicans are strong BDS movement compares Israel to an apart- Tere is no in support of Israel. Israel is a beacon of free- heid Africa—this is an absurd and demean- dom, democracy and liberty in the midst of ing comparison. Israel is a wonderful dynamic reason to darkness. Our greatest ally all across the world country, and a special place and I am glad to abandon this. A is Israel. Our President needs an almost daily re- stand with it.” minder who his friends are, and who are his en- president is not emies. Your presence here in DC to be involved like the king. If in this, is so important—to bring accountability Gary Bauer to a weak and inconsistent foreign policy.” President of American Values; Director, CUFI you think this, “God said I will bless those who bless you you don’t get and curse those who curse you. I read in the Congressman Louis Gohmert Bible that God so loved you that he would the American R-Texas bless people like me if I would fnd a way to system of “These are troubling times. On February stand with you. God doesn’t make false prom- 12th the U.S. declassifed details of Israel’s al- ises. He doesn’t stick his fnger out in the air to government.” leged nuclear program. In the document the fgure out which way the wind is blowing; he Pentagon reveals supposed details about Is- makes the wind blow. We now have leadership Senator rael – but information about France, Germa- in America that attacks Israel. That cursed Is- Ben Sasse ny, etc. remained declassifed. This coincided rael, so I don’t fear for just Israel; I fear for the with intense pressure for Netanyahu to can- US. We are appeasing Iran. Helen Thomas led cel his speech. We need to be the best friend the White House press core, when asked how that Israel has had. We were the frst nation to to solve the problem in the Middle East, she recognize and independent Israel—that’s the said send all those Jews back to where they are

9 CAPITOL HILL PRO-ISRAEL MISION

Gene Shusman, Philadelphia Board Chairman, leads the meeting with Senator Pat Toomey's (R-PA) stafer

“When from in Europe. The land of Israel is where the their national ambitions to dominate the re- Jewish people come from. ‛Go back where you gion. When everyone said Assad must go, Ira- everyone said came from,’ they spray paint on synagogues nians said no, and they stood frm with their Assad must go, in Europe. But isn’t that Israel? They hate you allies. We didn’t, and they won. These are the no matter where you are. Anti-Semitism is not people we think we can persuade to become Iranians said about where you are. They want Jews “some- a force of stability in the Middle East?” no, and they place else.” There is endless tolerance for Jews Mort Klein thanked the entire ZOA staf for that are dying and no tolerance for Jews that their hard work in making the ZOA’s Advocacy stood frm with fght back. There are evil men in other places, Mission to Washington, D.C. such a success. their allies. men who worship death, who are promising to Mort ofered special thanks to Josh London bring to Jews and Christianʼs sorrows greater and Dan Pollak, Co-Directors of the ZOA’s We didn’t, and than we have already experienced. Mort gets Government Relations Department, who were they won.” up every day consumed by the duty to stand up masters of ceremonies at the luncheon event and fght it. I believe if we do that, perhaps even and led the discussion of issues, for all their one hundred years from now, that the world work in helping to bring this impressive ar- will be able to look at America and see prosper- ray of Members of Congress to the luncheon. ous stars and stripes and look at Jerusalem and Thanks were also expressed to National Exec- see the united capital of the nation of Israel.” utive Director David Drimer, Howard Katzof, Susan Tuchman, Josh Teplow and the entire ZOA staf for their hard work in making the Dr. Patrick Clausen Mission run so smoothly. Economist and Scholar on Iran at Mort also recognized Debra Benjamin Washington Institute on Near East Policy and Liz Berney for their important input into “Iran thinks to itself – “Iran is on the march, this release. Thanks were also given to Enid the US is in retreat, and Israel will soon disap- Roman, Lillian Gershowitz, Harriet Bach- pear.” When Iran views world events they see mann, and Felice Capustin for their great confrmation that what they believe is going help. ZOA also appreciated advice given by to happen. Their brand of Islam, all across the Chairman Dr. Michael Goldblatt, Vice-Chairs world, is on the march. Iran became Shia to Dr. Alan Mazurek and Irwin Hochberg, Trea- distinguish themselves from other Arabs (Sun- surer Henry Schwartz and Secretary Mark ni). Then, they can use a religious argument for Levenson, Esq.

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Background: Wheeler Hall, University of California. Inset: UC President Janet Napolitano

ZOA Urges UC Regents to Adopt State Department Defnition of Anti-Semitism

Anti-Semitism has been a serious The ZOA played a key role in achieving problem at the University of California (UC). this development. Last March, the ZOA Over the past few years, Jewish UC students and 22 other organizations sent a letter, have reported being physically assaulted, spearheaded by the AMCHA Initiative, to threatened and discriminated against; Jewish President Napolitano, expressing concern property has been defaced and destroyed; about anti-Semitism on the UC campuses and and student events disrupted and shut down. urging the UC to adopt the State Department’s Last May, UC President Janet Napolitano defnition of anti-Semitism. In addition, David SUSAN TUCHMAN (formerly Arizona governor and U.S. Secretary Kadosh, executive director of the ZOA’s Director, Center for of Homeland Security) declared her support Western Region, addressed the Regents at Law and Justice for the State Department’s defnition of anti- several of their meetings, urging them to Semitism. She also agreed that the UC Regents adopt the State Department defnition of anti- should adopt this defnition. Semitism and to strongly address all forms of This was an important development. The anti-Semitism at the UC schools. State Department recognizes that denying Not surprisingly, anti-Israel groups have Israel’s right to exist, demonizing Israel (by, for weighed in to oppose the State Department example, comparing Israeli policy to that of the defnition and discourage the UC Regents Nazis) and applying double standards to Israel from adopting it. These groups falsely claim (by requiring of it a behavior not demanded of that adopting the defnition would interfere any other country) is anti-Semitic. with constitutionally protected speech.

12 CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE

Adopting the defnition would do nothing of the sort. It would simply provide clearer guidelines for students, faculty and administrators to identify anti-Semitism on the UC campuses, which is a critical step to fxing the problem. To encourage the UC Regents to reject the claims being made by anti-Israel groups, the ZOA prepared a “lawyers’ petition” that has been disseminated and posted online. The petition says in part: “Opponents claim that adopting the State Department defnition will silence campus activism and suppress free speech. As legal professionals, we can state with certainty that this claim simply is not true.” Urging the Regents to adopt the defnition at their next meeting, the petition states: “Clearly defning and identifying the many facets of anti-Semitism is the frst step to eradicating it, in all its ugly forms.” The Te United States Supreme Court petition garnered hundreds of signatures from lawyers around the country. In addition, the ZOA prepared a “lawyers’ letter” that was sent to Napolitano and to the law, only “Jerusalem” could be recorded, Te law at issue the Regents. Signed by Susan Tuchman, with no country of birth.) In a 6-3 vote, the director of the ZOA’s Center for Law and Court concluded that the President has the was not about Justice, and legal counsel for three other exclusive power to grant formal recognition recognizing national organizations, the letter refutes to a foreign sovereign, and that the 2002 all legal and non-legal claims made by the law infringes on the President’s consistent Israel’s sov- anti-Israel groups opposed to the adoption decision not to recognize Israel’s sovereignty ereignty over of the State Department defnition of anti- over Jerusalem. The majority opinion was Semitism. Urging that the Regents adopt the delivered by Justice Anthony M. Kennedy and Jerusalem. It defnition at their meeting in September, the joined by the Court’s three Jewish justices, simply gave letter emphasizes that “anti-Semitic bigotry Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Stephen Breyer and on the UC campuses...afects the entire UC Elena Kagan. Americans community. This ugly problem cannot be Chief Justice John G. Roberts dissented, born in meaningfully and efectively combatted until emphatically stating his opinion that the we truly understand the problem itself.” Court’s decision was “…a frst: Never before Jerusalem the has this Court accepted a President’s direct right to identify SUPREME COURT INVALIDATES defance of an Act of Congress in the feld U.S. LAW ALLOWING of foreign afairs.” Both Roberts and Justice with Israel, if JERUSALEM-BORN AMERICANS Antonin Scalia, who issued a separate they so chose. TO LIST BIRTHPLACE AS dissenting opinion, questioned the majority’s “ISRAEL” conclusion that the President has exclusive In June, the U.S. Supreme Court recognition power and that the Jerusalem decided Zivotofsky v. Kerry, invalidating as passport law involved recognizing a foreign unconstitutional a 2002 federal law permitting sovereign. Scalia challenged the “Court’s Jerusalem-born Americans to list “Israel” as perception that the Nation ‘must speak with their birthplace on their U.S. passports. (Prior one voice’ about the status of Jerusalem,”

13 CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE

In a painful Israel. That is what the State Department blow to the did when Americans born in Taiwan were aforded the right to have their birthplace American listed as “Taiwan,” even though the U.S. did terror victims, not recognize Taiwan as a separate sovereign from China. Judge Daniels The U.S. government’s position is that ruled that the it does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem. Yet the ZOA’s amicus briefs PLO and the provided example after example of how the PA would be Executive—including the President and the State Department—has referred to Jerusalem required to post as part of Israel. Importantly, Menachem a bond in the Zivotofsky, whose family waged an almost 12-year legal battle to have Israel listed as amount that his birthplace on his passport, is an American the PLO and PA born in western Jerusalem, an area that Attorney General Loretta Lynch virtually no one disputes is part of Israel. claimed they The Jewish connection to Jerusalem is could pay. irrefutable, going back thousands of years. likening this approach to how a monarchy Jerusalem is mentioned 700 times in the operates and opining that the approach “will Jewish holy books, and Jews around the world erode the structure of separated powers that pray facing Jerusalem, which is mentioned 20 the People established for the protection of times a day in our prayers. On Yom Kippur their liberty.” and Passover, we recite the words “Next year Although deeply disappointed by the in Jerusalem.” Jews have been a majority of Supreme Court’s decision, the ZOA is proud residents of Jerusalem since the mid-1800s. to have been the only Jewish organization in Unfortunately, the Supreme Court’s decision the U.S. to have fought for the enforcement could be twisted by Israel-bashers to deny the of the Jerusalem passport law almost since Jewish connection to Jerusalem and Israel’s the time it was enacted. The ZOA submitted right to any part of the city. three amicus briefs (one to the U.S. Court of Attorneys Nathan Lewin, a member of the Appeals and one each time the case went to ZOAʼs Center for Law and Justice’s Advisory the Supreme Court) in support of Menachem Board, and Alyza Lewin waged a brilliant legal Zivotofsky, the Jerusalem-born American who battle on behalf of the Zivotofsky family to was denied a U.S. passport listing Israel as his uphold and enforce the 2002 law. Attorneys birthplace, and whose family fled suit on his —and ZOA national board members— behalf against the State Department. David I. Schoen, counsel of record on ZOA’s The law at issue was not about recognizing amicus briefs; Edward M. Siegel; Cardozo Law Israel’s sovereignty over Jerusalem. It simply Professor Malvina Halberstam; and Cliford A. gave Americans born in Jerusalem the right Rieders provided critical input on the ZOA’s to identify with Israel, if they so chose. Any briefs. concerns that the law might be construed as recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over ZOA CONDEMNS OBAMA Jerusalem could easily have been remedied by ADMINISTRATION FOR AIDING the Executive issuing a disclaimer, making it PLO/PA IN TERROR CASE clear that the State Department’s compliance Last February, after a seven-week trial, a with the law did not mean that the U.S. had federal jury in Manhattan found the Palestine ofcially recognized Jerusalem as part of Liberation Organization (PLO) and the

14 CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE

Palestinian Authority (PA) liable for planning, never condemned the PLO and PA for funding In a public plea funding and carrying out six terrorist shootings and sponsoring terrorist attacks that resulted to the judge, and bombings in Israel in the early 2000s in the murder and maiming of innocent which killed and maimed dozens of innocent American citizens. The administration never the ZOA wrote: committed to taking steps to ensure that American citizens and others (Sokolow v. PLO). “Please make The jury awarded the plaintifs – American victims and their families would be fnancially victims and their families – $218.5 million in compensated by the PLO and PA. And while it clear that noting in the Statement of Interest that the damages, automatically tripled under the the courts will Antiterrorism Act to more than $655 million. Palestinian Arabs receive billions of dollars in The plaintifs asked presiding Judge George B. U.S. aid, the administration never condemned show no mercy the PA for using this money to support and Daniels to enter a judgment consistent with to sponsors of the jury’s verdict. The PLO and the PA moved glorify terrorism, nor has the administration to stay execution of the judgment, stating threatened to stop funding the PA until it Palestinian Arab stops promoting terrorism. their intention to appeal. They claimed that terrorism against they could not aford the required bond while The ZOA urged Judge Daniels to ensure their appeal was pending, which the plaintifs that justice is fnally served, and that the PLO American strongly contested. and PA be required to post the full appeal bond, based on the payment schedule citizens, whether ZOA WROTE TO ATTORNEY GENERAL suggested by the American victims. In a the Obama public plea to the judge, the ZOA wrote: Before Judge Daniels could render a administration decision on these matters, the media reported “Please make it clear that the courts will show that the U.S. government might be submitting no mercy to sponsors of Palestinian Arab agrees or not.” a “Statement of Interest” in the case, to terrorism against American citizens, whether request that the judge consider the economic the Obama administration agrees or not.” and national security impact that posting the On August 25, 2015, in a painful blow to the bond and paying the damages could have on American terror victims, Judge Daniels ruled the PLO and the PA. The ZOA immediately that the PLO and the PA would be required to wrote to Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, post $10 million and an additional $1 million urging the U.S. government not to intervene, monthly in order to appeal the jury verdict. and to “side with the victims of terrorism, not This amount matched the amount that the with the terrorists.” PLO and PA claimed they could pay. On August 10, the Justice Department took As plaintifs’ counsel characterized it, the unusual step of fling a “Statement of Interest the bond that the judge imposed is a “token of the United States of America.” Virtually the amount,” and it is, quite simply, shameful, entire Statement of Interest focused on “the considering these facts: The PA pays pensions harms that could arise if the Court were to to families of terrorists and suicide bombers impose a bond that severely compromised who were killed or are in prison; the more the PA’s ability to operate as a governmental Jews they killed, the bigger the pension. The authority” – disregarding the fact that the U.S. PA spends at least $6 million per month on provides the PA with $600 million each year and these pensions. And the PA continues to Europe provides billions more. promote and glorify terrorism and to be In addition to siding with the terrorists a dishonest and immoral regime. Shortly rather than the American victims of terrorism, before Judge Daniels’ ruling in August, the Obama administration never praised Palestinian Media Watch reported that the PA the fact that after the plaintifs waited 10 had dedicated yet another city square to the years for their claims to be heard by a jury, memory of a terrorist murderer responsible justice was fnally served and the sponsors for the deaths of innocent civilians in Israel. of terrorism against American citizens were Around the same time, the media reported fnally held accountable. The administration that authentic PA documents, leaked online,

15 CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE

ZOA URGES CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS The ZOA publicly urged Congress to hold hearings on whether the Obama administration is truly supporting the rights of American victims of terrorism, as it claims, raising several questions: Why did the administration take the unusual step of intervening in this terrorism case? What steps will the administration be taking to ensure that the judgment is collected, and will the U.S. government be intervening in the appeal? Why has the administration done nothing in response to the PA’s continuing incitement of murder in every aspect of their culture, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, site of PLO-PA bombing attack, mur- naming schools, streets and sports teams dering 9 innocents, including 5 Americans, and wounding over 85 others after terrorist killers, and holding parades that glorify deceased terrorists? And why has the Justice Department failed to pursue Palestinian Arab terrorists and bring them to justice? All American citizens, including Any anti- show—as described by a columnist for the the victims of terrorism and their families Palestinian newspaper Al-Ayyam—“rampant in this legal case, deserve answers to these Israel bias is corruption, mismanagement and nepotism” in questions. unacceptable the PA government. The Obama administration’s actions have and should be troubling implications beyond the Sokolow ZOA CONDEMNS ANTI-ISRAEL immediately case. Shortly before Judge Daniels issued his BIAS BY THREE AIRLINES ruling, the media reported that according to The ZOA’s position is that any anti- identifed and a PLO ofcial, the Palestinians have already Israel bias is unacceptable and should be corrected. signed an “agreement for all-out cooperation” immediately identifed and corrected. In the with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Moreover, past few months, the ZOA has been alerted PA President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to anti-Israel bias by Lufthansa German to visit the Islamic Republic soon, to improve Airlines, Air France and American Airlines. ties and increase cooperation between the The ZOA immediately contacted each airline, PA and Iran, the largest supporter of Islamic pinpointed the problem and demanded that terrorism around the world, arming Hamas it be rectifed. and Hezbollah with funds to purchase missiles and build terror tunnels. It is horrifying and LUFTHANSA GERMAN AIRLINES betrays every American principle and sense In May 2015, the ZOA wrote to Lufthansa of justice for the Obama administration to German Airlines, calling on the airline to have encouraged Judge Daniels to show explain a discriminatory baggage policy fnancial leniency to the PLO and the PA permitting passengers to bring two bags free when the PA is now working to build an of charge to and from every country in the alliance with the worst terrorist regime in the Middle East – except the state of Israel. In its world, committed to America’s – and Israel’s letter, the ZOA stated: “We hope that Israel’s –annihilation. The Obama administration’s omission was merely an oversight and was “Statement of Interest of the United States of not done intentionally. If it was intentional, it America” actually took a position against U.S. would clearly constitute anti-Semitism.” interests. In response, Lufthansa did not dispute

16 CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE

the existence of the policy excluding Israel, nor did the airline provide any justifcation for it. Lufthansa referred vaguely to baggage allowances that are “based on economic and commercial factors,” but did not explain how these factors identically afect every Arab/ Muslim country in the Middle East, except Israel. Lufthansa denied that its special baggage policy is discriminatory. But on its face, it is. Lufthansa singled out Israel and subjected travelers there to diferent and conspicuously less generous treatment than that enjoyed by any Arab/Muslim country in the Middle East. Air France agreed to correct omission of Israel on its fyover map When Lufthansa failed to address these concerns, the ZOA urged travelers not to fy Lufthansa, emphasizing that “a German airline should be especially sensitive to discriminating against Jews and the Jewish Philadelphia-Tel Aviv fight – the airline’s only ZOA urged State.” route to Israel. American American Airlines claims that the fight is AIR FRANCE being cancelled because it is losing money. Airlines to In July, the ZOA wrote to Air France, after But industry ofcials have challenged the reverse its being contacted by a passenger on a recent truth of this claim, one source explicitly Air France fight from Los Angeles to Israel, stating that “proftability wasn’t a problem.” decision and which had a brief layover in Paris. During Industry ofcials have strongly suggested that reinstate the fight, the passenger noticed that on Air American’s decision is political, based on its France’s fyover map, the countries of Syria, ties to Arab airlines through its membership its one and Lebanon and Jordan were identifed, as well in the global OneWorld alliance. only route to as the regions of the so-called “West Bank” In its letter, the ZOA urged American and Gaza Strip. But the map failed to identify Airlines to reverse its decision and reinstate Israel... Israel. its one and only route to Israel, writing: Enclosing a screen shot of the fyover “You will continue to earn the goodwill and screen that the passenger had provided, the continued patronage of your customers who ZOA urged Air France to correct the omission fy to Israel and elsewhere, and you will avoid of Israel. In its reply, Air France denied the taint of anti-Israelism and anti-Semitism that there was any discriminatory intent, that is unfortunately simmering now… explaining that Israel’s omission on the We would hate to have to encourage our fyover map “was caused by a problem due membership…to fy another airline whenever to the map scale.” Air France stated that the traveling because of the perception that problem was being corrected and apologized American Airlines is hostile to Israel, and/or for any unintended ofense caused. that the airline values its relationships with its Arab airline partners at the expense of AMERICAN AIRLINES its relationship with Israel and its customers In August, the ZOA wrote to American who fy there, many of whom are Jewish.” Airlines after learning that the airline had As of this writing, a senior ofcial at decided to stop fying to Israel. Efective American Airlines has reached out to the ZOA January 2016, American is terminating its to discuss this matter.

17 Government Relations Department

Te Iran Situation

The situation with Iran is an ongoing Senate, or if the President vetoes a resolu- emergency, and ZOA’s Government Rela- tion of disapproval and the Congress cannot tions Department has prioritized its eforts muster enough votes in both chambers to to do everything possible to stop Iran from override that veto, then the JCPOA would go gaining nuclear weapons capability. During into efect at the end of the statutory review most of 2015, that has meant focusing on the and presidential consideration period. Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), On July 19, the State Department ofcially aka the “Iran deal”—a nuclear agreement transmitted to Congress the JCPOA, its an- JOSH reached on July 14 between Iran and the UN nexes and related materials – though minus LONDON Security Council’s fve permanent members the “secret side deal” between Iran and the Co-Director, (the U.S. in the lead, with China, France, Rus- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Government Relations sia and the United Kingdom) plus Germany which the US was not ofcially party to. The Department (also known as the P5+1) and the European 60-day review period ofcially began on July Union. 20 and ended on September 17. As this issue Under U.S. law, the JCPOA was propound- goes to press, ZOA is fully engaged and our ed and presented in the form of an executive grassroots membership is fully mobilized in agreement, excluding any statutory role for the advocacy efort to persuade the House the U.S. Congress. In response, Congress and Senate to pass a resolution of disapprov- passed the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review al and stop the deal. By the time this report Act of 2015, which was signed into law on is published, the outcome of this statutory May 22. The Act forced the agreement to congressional review period will likely be undergo a 60-day review, during which known and our next set of ZOA government Congress, both the House and Senate, can relations priorities will likely be in place. DAN POLLAK pass a resolution of approval, a resolution of How did we get to this point? Anyone Co-Director, disapproval or do nothing. If both the House reading back issues of the ZOA Report Government Relations and Senate approved or did nothing, or if the might think that there could never be a Department Congress was split between the House and deal as horrible as the one that President

18 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DEPARTMENT

Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry this side agreement is assumed to be the Te hearings precedent for any inspections at a military have negotiated. You may remember during revealed the 2012 election campaign that President site in Iran. It was also noted during the hear- Obama promised that he would roll back the ings that the Nuclear Agreement Review Act numerous required all side agreements to be disclosed Iranian nuclear program and never permit half-truths Iran to progress toward a nuclear weapon. to Congress. The administration was clearly Even as he signed the “Joint Plan of Action” in violation of that law, yet there were no and lies told consequences. (JCPA) interim deal on November 24, 2013, by the Obama the administration was insisting that Iran’s The hearings revealed numerous half- nuclear capabilities would be rolled back, truths and lies told by the Obama admin- administration. istration. At one point Secretary of State inspections would be “anytime, anywhere,” At one point and Iran would have to fully account for all Kerry stated that no one had ever promised past nuclear-bomb-related research it had “anytime, anyplace inspections.” In fact, sena- Secretary of tors read back to him statements by high ever conducted. State Kerry None of these things turned out to be ofcials saying exactly that. A classifed brief true. As the deal was being negotiated in by the IAEA left senators very frustrated and stated that led Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to state April of this year, the Corker-Menendez bill no one had to force the President to bring the matter that he would seek to de-fund the IAEA until before Congress morphed into the Corker- they were willing to share with Congress the ever promised information on the secret deals. Cardin compromise bill, aka the Iran Nuclear “anytime, Agreement Review Act of 2015, which passed Most ZOA members are aware of just the Congress and became law. ZOA had sup- what a catastrophe the JCPOA is. This deal anyplace will give the western world’s approval to the ported several amendments to that bill that inspections.” In were unfortunately defeated. The amend- Iranian acquisition of a nuclear weapons in- ments would have made the Iranian agree- frastructure on an industrial scale. We will be fact, senators concerned not just about the breakout time ment easier to defeat and required Iran to read back to stop supporting terrorism and end all threats for a single weapon, as we are today, but also to destroy Israel. about the ability of Iran to construct many him statements nuclear weapons in just months. If Iran is not The congressional hearings on the JCPOA by high ofcials were very instructive. Senator Tom Cotton cheating right now, then this moment would (R-AR) asked Secretary of State Kerry and be the frst time in the history of the Islamic saying exactly Republic that they are keeping an interna- Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, and then, that. later, Under Secretary of State for Politi- tional agreement. cal Afairs Wendy Sherman, about the side At press time, the exact vote count in deals that were made between Iran and the Congress is not yet known, but in general, IAEA. Incredibly, Kerry and Moniz claimed Republicans opposed the agreement, and a not to be familiar with their contents, and few Democrats broke with the administration Sherman claimed to have briefy seen the to oppose the deal. In the case of Senator documents but to be unclear about the Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who announced his details. An Associated Press story on August opposition on August 6, the expected infu- 20 released the full text of the second secret ence among moderate Democrats who rely agreement, and it clearly indicates that the on him for expertise on Near East issues did Iranians will be taking soil samples of the not materialize. Either Schumer was an- Parchin military site without on-site supervi- nouncing his support without working to con- sion from the IAEA. This site is believed to be vince others, or his infuence was overstated one place where the Iranians had conducted in the frst place. Probably the most surpris- experiments to assemble a nuclear warhead. ing and disturbing Senate vote to support The degree of trust placed in the Iranians the agreement was announced by Senator shocked all observers, and unfortunately, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Her loyalty to her

19 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DEPARTMENT

Most ZOA party and susceptibility to simplistic rational- Now that the vote in Congress has ization apparently exceeded her knowledge members already been taken, the obvious truth that of Iran and the region. By contrast, there sanctions alone were not stopping the Irani- are aware of were defnitely some inspiring vote choices as ans from moving forward with their nuclear well. In particular, Representative Grace Meng just what a weapons program becomes impossible to (D-NY) was a courageous early opponent of ignore. Even when the sanctions were at catastrophe the agreement and came under tremendous their most efective, the Iranians managed partisan pressure, along with the small group the JCPOA to fnd the resources to provide weapons to of Democratic colleagues who did not buckle Hezbollah and Hamas, to prop up the Assad is. Tis deal to the administration’s lobbying. regime in Syria, and to fund nuclear weapons One aspect of the deal that, as of this will give the research and enrich uranium stockpiles to writing, has still not received enough atten- higher and higher purity. It is unclear where western world’s tion is the fate of lawsuits that have been the red lines are in the eyes of Israeli decision brought against Iran by victims of the Islamic approval to makers, but whatever Israel decides to do to Republic’s many terrorist attacks. Diferent protect its security has to be actively support- the Iranian cases are at various stages of litigation, but in ed by Congress. It is also very important to some cases there have already been verdicts, acquisition let politicians who made politically expedient and plaintif’s lawyers are concerned that decisions, at the expense of U.S. and Israeli of a nuclear the same assets being released by the JCPOA security needs, rue their own poor judgment. are the ones that should have been placed weapons There must be no opportunity to evade re- under court supervision for payment to the sponsibility once Iranian duplicity is revealed. infrastructure victims of Iranian terror. The actions by the The Government Relations Department administration in terrorism cases implicat- on an also continues to focus on its other regular ing the Palestinian Authority are sobering in legislative priorities of ending aid to the industrial this context, since judges give great weight to Palestinian Authority (PA) and making any the claim by the State Department that U.S. scale. future aid contingent upon the PA fulflling national interests will be harmed if money is its many interim peace accord obligations; allowed to go to victims. educating Congress about the ongoing Arab Beyond the Government Relations Depart- war against Israel; and communicating ZOA’s ment’s focused and tireless eforts to educate insights and reactions to the news of the day. and persuade Congress on this issue, ZOA’s Our annual Mission to Washington was grassroots membership were deployed to held on April 28, drawing hundreds of strong call, email, fax and meet with their elected and proud ZOA activists from 26 states, in- representatives in Congress to push for the cluding California, Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, resolution of disapproval. Further, the Govern- Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, ment Relations Department worked actively in Texas, Florida, District of Columbia, Virginia coalition with other groups to strengthen our and Maryland, among others. These com- voice and marshal a larger pool of resources mitted Zionist activists met with almost 100 and grassroots activists. members of Congress or their stafers. A major rally was planned and executed by Beyond the Iran issue, which was the the ZOA and a coalition of other groups on the most pressing and loomed largest, our advo- lawn of the U.S. Capitol on September 9. Presi- cates also urged the Congress to cut all $440 dential candidates including Senator Ted Cruz million per year in funding to the PA until the (R-TX) and Donald Trump spoke out against Palestinian Arabs fulfll their written com- the agreement . The next day, September 10, mitments to end incitement in their schools, dozens of ZOA board members and regional media and speeches; outlaw terror groups; leaders few to Washington to talk with sena- end their alliance with Hamas; arrest terror- tors and Congress members about the Iran ists; stop paying pensions to Jew killers and deal, just before the vote was held. their families, specifcally to reward them for

20 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DEPARTMENT

their monstrous atrocities; put Israel on their conjunction with ZOA’s Center for Law and ...at the heart maps; and accept Israel as a Jewish state. Justice, we continue to pursue opportunities of all of ZOA’s One of the clear consequences of the to team with other Jewish groups to ensure politics wrought by President Obama is the that Department of Education grants pursu- Government sharp, divided rise of partisanship in Con- ant to Title VI of the Higher Education Act are Relations gress. Support for Israel has traditionally not being used to support one-sided Middle been one of the few issues that transcend East studies programs that are hostile to eforts, stands the partisan divide, but as the fght over the Israel, and to ensure that the Department of the dedication, invitation to Prime Minister Netanyahu to Education enforces Title VI of the Civil Rights speak before Congress made clear and then Act to protect Jewish students from discrimi- passionate the “debate” over the President’s Iran deal nation at publicly-funded schools. We work advocacy further illuminated, partisanship is creep- closely with our regional directors and with ing into every issue in Washington. The ZOA Jef Daube, ZOA’s Israel director. We also par- and depth of supports the idea of bipartisan support for ticipate in meetings, public forums and policy knowledge of Israel, our closest ally, but we do not make a discussions with foreign policy and political fetish of this ideal. Substance – for example, professionals, and continue to engage in print ZOA members the need to stop a bad deal on Iran – must and broadcast media opportunities to spread across the take precedence over the principle of bipar- the word on ZOA issues. tisan consensus. While the outcome of the ZOA grassroots activism, particularly at country Iran deal review process is not yet known, it our annual DC Pro-Israel Capitol Hill Mis- seems likely that this sharp partisan divide sion and our relentless grassroots campaign over Israel-related issues will only grow more against the Iran deal, helps underscore that, pointed and difcult for the duration of Presi- at the heart of all of ZOA’s Government Rela- dent Obama’s presidency. tions eforts, stands the dedication, passion- In addition to dealing with our elected ate advocacy and depth of knowledge of ZOA ofcials, the Government Relations Depart- members across the country. Please continue ment interacts with Jewish and Christian to stay involved in the grassroots advocacy Zionist organizations in DC and other that is so critical to our being efective in American Jewish groups. For example, in Washington.

21 Capitol Hill Mission Pictorial

2 3

1

5 6

4 1. ZOA President Morton A. Klein listens to Cong. Brad Sherman (D-CA)

2. ZOA Board member Jim Pollack introduces Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL)

3. ZOA delegates listening to congressional addresses at luncheon

4. ZOA delgate, Roberta Dzubow speaks to ZOA Board Chair Dr. Michael Goldblatt 7 8 5. Eugene Greenstein, president of ZOA Detroit chapter

6. ZOA President Morton A. Klein talks to Gary Bauer, president of American Values

7. Reserved table for congress

8. Dr. Marvin Belsky , ZOA New York chapter president

9. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and ZOA President Morton A. Klein 9 10. Dr. Michael Goldblatt, Chairman of 10 the ZOA Board of Directors

22 Capitol Hill Mission Pictorial

1 2

3

1. Dan Pollak, Co-Director, Government Relations Department, introduces Liz Berney, Director of Special Programs

2. Dr. Michael Goldblatt Chairman of the ZOA Board, and Jim Pollack, ZOA Board Member

3. ZOA delegates meeting with Cong. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ)

4. Cong. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Dan Pollak, Co-Director, Government Relations Department

5. ZOA president Morton A. Klein and Senator Ben Sasse 4 5 (R-NE)

23 Capitol Hill Mission Pictorial

1 2 3

1. Dr. Alan Mazurek, ZOA Vice-Chair, and other ZOA delegates meet with Senator Schumer's (D-NY) staf

2. ZOA delegate Mindy Stein asks a question at the DC Mission luncheon

3. ZOA President Morton A. Klein during a thoughtful moment

4. Director of Develpment Howard Katzof speaks to ZOA Center of Law and Justice Director Susan Tuchman and Co-Director, Government Relations Department, Josh London 4 5. ZOA delegate at the luncheon

6. ZOA delegate listens to an address

7. Patrick Clawson, Director for Research, Washington Institute for Near East Policy

8. Stuart Pavilack, ZOA Pittsburgh Executive Director and Steve Feldman, ZOA Greater Philly Executive Director 9. Lee Bender, ZOA Greater Philly 5 6 7 President

8 9

24 Capitol Hill Mission Pictorial

2

1

3

4

5 1. ZOA President Morton A. Klein and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)

2. ZOA DC Mission luncheon in the Russell Senate Ofce Building

3.ZOA President Morton A. Klein, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Dan Pollak, Co-Director, Government Relations Department

4. ZOA delegate

5. ZOA President Morton A. Klein, Dan Pollak, Co-Director, Government Relations Department

6. ZOA delegates listen to a congressional address 6

25 ZOACampus

ZACH STERN Managing Director ZOA Campus has greatly expanded and Tri-State Coordinator (based in New the ZOA’s infuence on college York City) campuses across the cwountry.

BRIAN ALBERT With the recent hire of two Associate Director and Mid-Atlantic additional campus coordinators, Coordinator (based in Washington, DC) for New England and the West Coast, the department now has DAVID KADOSH West Coast seven coordinators, covering every Executive Director and Bay Area Coordinator (based region from coast to coast. in Oakland, CA)

In the spring of 2015, for the frst time, ZOA Campus extended its LEORE BEN- presence to more than 100 campuses. Coordinators worked with pro- DAVID West Coast Israel and political groups, Hillels and Chabads, fraternities and sorori- Coordinator ties, to plan and execute efective campus events. These included ad- (based in Los vocacy training seminars, educational events, in-depth discussions and Angeles, CA) Krav Maga workshops that engaged students in Israel and Zionist advo- cacy and achieved the following:

PANDIT MAMI • Campus coordinators maintained relationships and acted as Midwest key resources for over 125 groups at more than 100 campuses Coordinator (based in Detroit, across the country. Students at these schools looked to ZOA MI) Campus as a resource for planning events and fghting anti- Semitism, and used ZOA materials to educate their peers. • Coordinators led 42 events at 32 schools, ofering seminars and presentations on key issues related to Israel, Zionism and the CESAR DEGRACIA- Middle East. Topics included “Efective Israel Advocacy Messag- MORALES ing,” “Palestinian Arab Incitement,” “Fighting Hamas in Gaza,” Southeast Coordinator “The Legal Foundations of Israel,” and more. (based in Miami, FL) • Coordinators helped organize 38 additional events at 29 schools, including student leadership summits, high-profle speaker events on Zionism and Israel advocacy, Yom Ha’atzmaut cele- brations, and more. JONATHAN • Coordinators were in contact with students and student groups GINSBURG at nearly 40 new schools across the country. ZOA Campus looks New England forward to building on these new relationships and creating a Coordinator (based in stronger Zionist presence at these schools. Boston, MA) With a new academic year, campus coordinators are building on

26 ZOACAMPUS

Midwest Coordinator Pandit Mami (center), after leading a Krav Maga seminar and teaching students about the importance of Zionism and Jewish self-defense.

these successes. ZOA Campus is a leading re- be given to school administrators, to demon- Tis year, source for students on the front lines fghting strate the anti-Semitic and pro-terror nature of the internship’s for Israel. the SJP event, or they can be distributed at the event to help counter the hatred being spread. main project ZOA CAMPUS SUMMER The fact sheets aim to strip anti-Israel involved speakers of their credibility on campus by INTERNSHIP showing college students that the messages building a ZOA Campus hosted its annual summer these speakers promote—hatred, anti-Semi- database of internship programs in New York City and the tism, the destruction of a nation—go against San Francisco Bay Area. Interns worked on a the liberal values that most students embrace. anti-Israel variety of projects and helped ZOA Campus The summer internship program was a speakers on develop more resources for students to use success, engaging some of the most active stu- on campus. dents and helping the ZOA develop innovative campus. This year, the internship’s main project and efective campus resources. involved building a database of anti-Israel speakers on campus. The database features ZOACAMPUS.ORG easily printable fact sheets on more than 20 anti-Israel speakers. This innovative resource After more than a year of preparation, ZOA helps students combat the hateful speakers Campus launched its ofcial website. ZOACam- that groups such as Students for Justice in pus.org serves as a unique and innovative re- Palestine (SJP) showcase on campus. When source for students across the country who students learn that an anti-Israel speaker is want to fght for Israel and combat anti-Sem- coming to their campus, they can go to ZOA itism on campus. The site ofers the following Campus’s new website, ZOACampus.org, and resources: print fact sheets about the speaker. These can • ZOACampus.org neatly displays all re-

27 ZOACAMPUS

Our new sources and opportunities ofered by on campus. ZOA Campus in a simple and easily • The site allows students experiencing website serves understood manner. or witnessing anti-Semitism to easily as a unique • It is the frst site to host a database contact the ZOA’s Center for Law and of printable fact sheets on anti-Israel Justice for help and support. and innovative speakers. • ZOACampus.org is mobile-friendly. resource for • The site features in-depth reports on Students can pull up fact sheets and all major anti-Israel groups and move- other resources on their phones while students across ments on college campuses, includ- in class or at an event to correct any the country who ing BDS, SJP and J Street. Students lies or misleading facts taught about can view and print media kits about Israel. want to fght each organization, which they can use for Israel and when speaking with university ofcials ZOA CAMPUS or advocating for Israel on campus. combat anti- • The website features fact sheets, FELLOWSHIP Semitism on booklets, videos and other resources After a successful frst year, the ZOA Cam- to help students educate themselves, pus Fellowship program has nearly doubled campus. their groups and the general campus the number of fellows for the 2015-2016 community about Zionism and Israel. academic year. ZOA Campus is expanding its Students can use ZOA Campus mate- reach on campuses across the country by of- rials at their tables, events and more. fering more students the opportunity to plan • The site features ZOA Campus’s new efective pro-Israel programs and represent student blog, where students write the ZOA on campus. Campus fellows will also about their experiences advocating participate in the ZOA Student Leadership for Israel and fghting anti-Semitism Mission to Israel.

Mort Klein Keynotes Several Conferences

ZOA President ha, Nebraska. world, most recently ZOA Quoted in Morton A. Klein was Mort has also in an essay in Com- the keynote speaker spoken at events mentary magazine New York Times, at the World Zionist in San Francisco, on the future of the Organization Inter- Florida, and Detroit Jewish community. Washington Post national Conference and he has spoken Editorials in the on anti-Semitism in at anti-Iran-deal ral- New York Times and Editorials Brussels, Belgium; lies in Long Island Washington Post at the World Likud and Washington, DC. quoted Mort on his conference in Je- He has appeared on concerns about po- rusalem, where he PBS, Fox, CNN, and sitions taken by the spoke on Iran; and MSNBC and has pub- Pope on Israel and at a Christian Zionist lished in newspa- the Palestinian Au- conference in Oma- pers throughout the thority.

28 ZOA People

Jim Pollack, a member of ZOA’s National Board for many years, is resolutely and ZOA BOARD MEMBER passionately committed to the safety, security, and longevity of the State of Israel. He believes the current State of Israel is a gift from G-d, that for many of us, our grandparents, and our great- James L. grandparents, would have said was an unrealistic dream. His connection to Israel is despite the fact that he was raised in a family with little if any direct connection to Israel or the Holocaust. Born into an American family with ancestral Pollack roots in Poland, Germany, Lithuania and Russia, but which had been in America since the late 1800s, he was raised in a Chicago family which practiced Reform Judaism, though they attended a Conservative synagogue. Pollack’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, and an MBA from DePaul University, where he majored in both fnance and marketing. Prior to joining his family business, which was founded in 1913, he spent a short time with the American National Bank, and the securities frm Hornblower and Weeks, Hemphill Noyes. In 1980 he founded a very successful Jim Pollack speaks at the ZOA Brandeis Dinner frm that did sales and marketing of literally thousands of consumer products, geared primarily to the “big box” retailers. He sold dignitaries that evening. that frm ten years ago, and now does private Pollack’s frst visit to Israel in 1990 left an investments. indelible impression. That two-week trip ignited Like most immigrants, Pollack’s family a passion and conviction in him that has lasted came to America in borderline poverty looking for over 25 years, and continues to this day. He for a better life. Through hard work and felt he had, in some indescribable way, fnally determination, they achieved the American “come home.” The safety, security, and eternal dream of signifcant business success, which longevity of Israel have become for him of such permitted the family to be very generous paramount importance that he has thought and philanthropically. Although they always worried about them almost every day since. supported Jewish causes, Israel was not the Pollack readily admits his lack of signifcant primary focus. familiarity with and deep understanding of Pollack has two early recollections of Israel. the Bible. But he certainly understands and First was the fact that his family's business built is immensely cognizant of the fact that there a small manufacturing plant in Israel in 1954. has not been a century in 2000 years where Second, in the 1960s, around the time of his bar somewhere, Jewish people have not been forced mitzvah, he recalls attending a 4000-person- to face the horrors of pogroms and holocausts. strong Israel Bond “Man Of The Year” Award This deep sense of the vulnerability of the Jewish Dinner in Chicago, at which his great-uncle was people is the self-embedded reality that, had honored. He fondly recalls having the privilege there been a Jewish state, there would have of meeting Ambassador Abba Eban, Vice- been a sanctuary for Jews, and much of what President Hubert Humphrey, and many other the Jews were forced to endure could have been

29 ZOA PEOPLE

Over the avoided. World War II. Not only did he initiate and lead the discussion with General Eisenhower to years, Pollack Pollack fnds it deeply troubling that the vast majority of Jews today, including many of try to convince him to run for President as a has become his friends, are immensely apathetic to world Democrat, he also was intimately responsible for both the 1952 and 1956 nominations of involved in events, to the plight of Jews outside America, and to growing anti-Semitism, and they seem to Adlai Stevenson for President. At both those and supported take everything in their daily lives for granted. conventions, Colonel Arvey was seated between President Truman and House Speaker Sam a vast array He points out that there have been many other times in our history where things seemed just Rayburn. In fact, Pollack points out that it was of pro-Israel fne, and then suddenly, in a very short time, Colonel Arvey who decided to slate Richard Daley for Chicago mayor in 1954. In addition, organizations, things changed dramatically. Pollack’s family has always been very and at the request of Joseph Kennedy, Colonel frequently in politically involved, and historically on the Arvey arranged for Senator John F. Kennedy to make the memorable 1956 Democratic leadership Democratic side of the aisle. That involvement dates back to when being Jewish and being Convention's keynote address. And Colonel positions. politically involved was uncommon. He has one Arvey was a very loud, respected, and infuential picture in his ofce of his father and great-uncle voice for President Truman in 1948, convincing with Illinois Democratic Governor Henry Horner Truman to recognize the State of Israel. Pollack, at the Governor’s mansion in Springfeld, dated on the other hand, leans Republican, and 1940. He also has pictures of his father and has been politically involved for decades with great-uncle with President Richard Nixon at a House, Senate, and gubernatorial races. He dinner, dated 1970, and a picture of his parents voluntarily served as National Finance Chairman with Illinois Republican Governor Dwight Green for Congresswoman Michele Bachmann's at his ofce, dated 1949. Another very treasured presidential campaign, as well as general picture is of Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion chairman for her congressional campaign. He sitting with Albert Einstein. has been recently approached by several current Over the years, Pollack has become involved presidential candidates, but has not yet made a in and supported a vast array of pro-Israel commitment. organizations, frequently in leadership positions. Pollack discovered the ZOA, which he In addition to ZOA, these include AIPAC, Israel says, “took positions which were frequently Bonds (where he served as a Prime Minister’s commensurate with mine.” He frst met Mort Chairman), Friends of the IDF, United States Klein at AIPAC in the 1990’s, where they both Holocaust Memorial Museum, Jewish Institute served on the Executive Council. Some years for National Security Afairs, Republican later, he agreed to become involved with the Jewish Coalition, Friends of Yemin Orde, Haifa ZOA. Pollack agreed to get involved predicated University, Christians United for Israel, and upon the fact that he felt both organizations numerous others, as well as think tanks which serve an important purpose and, at times, focus on matters of concern to Israel. frequently complement one another. “I found One family member who was a political Mort and the ZOA courageously unwavering, and mentor to Pollack was Democratic “kingmaker,” direct in their messaging and support of Israel. Colonel Jacob M. Arvey. Pollack points out that They would say things that needed to be said, at one time, Colonel Arvey was arguably the which AIPAC simply could not. I also happen to most powerful Jew in American politics. After believe that in today’s current situation, ZOA is a delivering in excess of 95% of the votes in his vital and necessary voice for counter-balancing Chicago district for President Roosevelt in both the left-wing radical group J Street. While AIPAC, the 1940 and 1944 presidential elections, he in contrast to ZOA and RJC, has worked diligently quickly rose to national prominence, and was to be a down-the-middle bipartisan organization, without question the unchallenged Democratic ZOA does not let bipartisanship interfere with its leader of the Illinois delegation following messaging.

30 ZOA PEOPLE

“The voice of ZOA in America and on the a Senator or Congressman full-heartedly or “Te voice mistakenly somehow concludes there is a 65% world stage is of paramount importance in of ZOA in immeasurable ways, and is rarely mufed for chance this is a good deal, you don’t risk the life political correctness,” continues Pollack. “Mort and very existence of your best friend and ally, America and on and the safety and security of America, on 2-1 Klein never hesitates to be immensely clear and the world stage straightforward in calling out issues afecting odds. And no, war is not the only other option Israel and the Jewish community at large. There to the deal. Far more likely, war will be the is of paramount only option with the deal. No one under any is good reason ZOA has been there with its importance in voice, accurately pointing out the facts for over circumstances who votes for this agreement twenty years.” can ever again honestly identify themselves as immeasurable being pro-Israel. And come election time, all There are many great philanthropists who ways, and is support Israel, while also showering their Jews must remember that. wealth on other, general worthy causes, but “There is much blame to go around for the rarely mufed situation we are in. Mistakes, poor judgment, Pollack is not one of them, deliberately so. for political “All, or just about all of my philanthropic and miscalculations, undeserved trust, carelessness, frankly political activities are centered on Israel. and subordinating appropriate and necessary correctness,” This didn’t just happen, it’s been a deliberate identifcations to undeserved political choice on my part. I had a great-uncle who correctness. And, many of our own people who gave the Mayo Clinic well over $100 million believe supporting Israel must be subordinated and started funding a Christmas dinner for the to supporting the wishes of our President. But homeless over 60 years ago. Both are obviously the path we were on over the past two years good humanitarian causes and I respect his was undeniably clear. When you are my best motivations, but I do strongly believe that it is friend, and I know you’re most afected by imperative that Jews take care of Jews, because what I’m negotiating, even if you’re not a party no one else will. My personal passion for Israel to the negotiation, I would come to you on a is deep-rooted; given our history, we must have regular basis to confdentially update you and to a safe haven and a homeland, and must never discuss what terms were palatable to you, and depend on anyone else.” what terms weren’t. We knew well over a year Today, Pollack is immensely concerned for ago that there was little if any communication the security of that safe haven and homeland. between Israel and Obama and his negotiating “President Barack Obama has signed a nuclear team on this agreement, other than his jargon deal with Iran which enables it to retain its that our relationship 'is sacrosanct and you must nuclear weapons program and emerge as trust us.' And then it was blatantly reconfrmed a nuclear power in a matter of a decade if last spring when the White House pressured they adhere to the agreement, or less if they Democratic congressional members not to don't.” Speaking on the day President Obama attend or listen to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s secured 34 senators to prevent an override of address to Congress, at which he was simply his threatened veto, Pollack lamented, “This is outlining Israel's concerns about these the worst day I can remember. I remember the agreement negotiations. This was the leader of terrible tension and concern about Israel’s fate arguably America's greatest ally, and certainly when the 1967 war broke out. I remember the our greatest ally in the Middle East. Our fght trauma of the 1973 war, but what’s happening should have gone full throttle back then, if not now? It’s mind-boggling and inconceivable to sooner—not six weeks ago. The baseline terms think that this is where we are. I feel like I lost of this agreement were evident then, but we a friend I was certain I could always depend on. didn’t want to believe it.” And, those members This is the single most important foreign policy who vote for this agreement needed to be told vote our Senators and Congressmen will ever “our relationship will never be the same, and the take. The facts are clear. Who our agreement pro-Israel fundraising dollars you always depend ‘partner’ Iran is, is clearly defned. Even if on are gone.”

31 Israel Ofce

Midreshet Harova gap-year students keen to sign up for ZOA campus advocacy

Advocacy and Activism in Israel

A NEW PUSH FOR SOVEREIGN agreement that, directly as a result of ZOA RESPONSE TO ARAB TERROR Israel’s advocacy, newly stipulates treating the Mount of Olives as a national priority. Violence, incitement, re-inventing history and inviting international pressure are the CHANGES ON THE GROUND weapons of choice to fulfll Arab aspirations To rivet the responsible authorities, we in Israel’s epicenter, the eastern sector of its initiated meetings with key fgures: members Jerusalem capital. of the Prime Minister’s ofce; Jerusalem JEFF DAUBE Fraught with riots, pummelings and Mayor Nir Barkat; government ministers Director, stabbings, rock attacks and fre-bombings, and Members of the Knesset (MKs) from ZOA Israel brush and gasoline fres, vehicular terror several parties; and high-ranking police and the occasional near lynching — this brass. A vortex of public declarations, robust “Jerusalem war,” as many are calling it, is legislation and changes on the ground testing the limits of singular Israeli patience. followed: Coverage of the struggle by the Hebrew language media has improved of late, in large • Cabinet Secretary Avichai Mandelblit part thanks to ZOA Israel. Israel’s leaders, reiterated his commitment to our too, have begun making a greater efort, hard-won 290 million shekel carrot- honoring their election campaign promises and-stick solution. Internal Security and abiding by the government coalition Minister Gilad Erdan also responded,

32 ISRAEL OFFICE

assuring us, and the public, of a major crackdown to restore control. He in- structed his second-in-command and the police chief to involve us in their security meetings and heed our sug- gestions and feedback. • Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked spon- sored a deterrence-strengthening law that levies jail sentences of up to 20 years for rock throwers. After four years of having pushed various bill it- erations, ZOA Israel is especially proud of this achievement. Meanwhile, Min- ister Miri Regev thanked us publicly for Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein agreed to make 'legal grounds' a campaign the Florida rock-throwing statute we theme had introduced and translated when she was leading the charge. • MK David Amsalem, Regev’s replace- Mount of Olives. Two summer con- Te global ment chair of the powerful Knesset certs each drew standing-room-only challenge to Interior Committee, agreed to hold a audiences of thousands. We are work- hearing at which we underscored, and ing on similar ideas, including hakafot Israel’s rights, he echoed, our usual refrain: Address- shniyot for the Succot tourist rush. whether in ing the depredations on the Mount of Olives is the prerequisite for preserv- RESOLUTE RIGHTS POLICY Jerusalem or ing Israeli sovereignty in the entirety of The global challenge to Israel’s rights, in its Judea- eastern Jerusalem, and beyond. whether in Jerusalem or in its Judea- • Following the horrendous desecra- Samaria heartland, is no less a threat to Samaria tions of 90 Jewish graves, Amsalem led Israeli sovereignty. We were buoyed by the heartland, an on-site briefng, with ministers and speeches and articles by national election MKs in tow. Particularly disturbing was candidates who, as we requested, invoked is no less a the need for multiple armored jeeps legal principles and the Levy Report. Notably, threat to Israeli flled with heavily armed border police, Minister Naftali Bennett called for the latter’s in front of and behind our vehicle, and immediate adoption. sovereignty. a helicopter hovering overhead. To help the campaigners stay on course • Facing scathing criticism, the police in- post-election, ZOA Israel’s Legal Grounds creased and realigned their forces, us- team conducted a series of one-on-one ing mobile units and multi-ton cement meetings with 10 promising new MKs and blocks to bar access to the trouble revisited earlier discussions with numerous spots we pointed to. The number of old-timers, about the problem of government assaults diminished signifcantly, com- reticence despite Israel’s superior claims. pared with last year’s turmoil. How- Many lawmakers, while comfortable ever, the targeting of less protected with the security and historical arguments, areas, for example, the City of David, were not as conversant with the legal issues, Mount Scopus and the Temple Mount, preferring avoidance to being trapped by has increased. their ignorance. Legal Grounds issued a • ZOA Israel proposed a mega-events user-friendly position paper, in Hebrew, to strategy, inspired by New York Mayor improve their understanding. Rudy Giuliani’s Central Park security We also discussed bipartisan playbook, to attract crowds to the congressional anti-BDS eforts, such as those

33 ISRAEL OFFICE

prominence on our agenda because of the targeting of youth, particularly, for BDS indoctrination. So we gladly accepted Jerusalem U’s invitation to inform nine gap- year programs about ZOA’s campus activities. Likewise, Tel Aviv Salon International, a popular Israeli program for Anglo students and young professionals, welcomed our requests to piggyback onto their events: frst, to explain the importance of the World Zionist Congress election and recruit voters for the ZOA slate; and more recently, to solicit phone calls to members of Congress EU-sponsored "ancient Arab village" planted next to Susiya Jewish against the Iran deal. community and archaeological site Florida State University senior Derek Silver, whom we had met on ZOA’s 2014 Student Leadership Mission to Israel, We explained of U.S. Representatives Ed Royce (R-CA) and accompanied us on our latest Washington Eliot Engel (D-NY), in order to encourage rounds, ably assisting by taking on many of the necessity similar activity in the Knesset. Legal Grounds the talking points and meticulously recording to delegitimize presented alongside a dozen other groups our nonstop meetings. Derek’s experience brought together by the Zionist Foundation as a pro-Israel advocate, at his college and the Iran deal, for Israel. in the Florida statehouse, stood him in good at least, to More pronouncements about the stead. Levy Report emerged. Israel’s most senior With updated documentation in hand help the next diplomat, Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi and an on-the-ground perspective, we administration Hotovely, expressed special interest in covered the Iran nuclear and non-nuclear collaborating with ZOA Israel on crafting a threat; ongoing Palestinian Authority budget reverse the “legal Iron Dome” against obsessive anti- shenanigans and escalating incitement; current one’s Israel lawfare. A Knesset session on BDS USAID refusal to fund Jewish, even Arab- correlated the decline in Israel’s making Israeli, projects over the Green Line; and how direction. its legal case with the growth of de- to respond appropriately to violence and legitimization movements. The momentum desecrations in Jerusalem. to pursue a resolute rights policy is defnitely We referred irate members, who wanted advancing, though not quickly enough given to act promptly against U.S. monies paying today’s climate. for terrorist salaries, to PA defunding language in the Foreign Operations bill, BI-CONTINENTAL ADVOCACY which they could use. We also reminded AMPLIFIES ISRAEL ALLIES them about a defunding law that can now be In the crosshairs of mounting implemented, with PA chief Mahmoud Abbas demonization, not to mention threats of having moved to undermine Israel at the UN outright annihilation, Israel needs all the help and the International Criminal Court. we can muster. Toward this end, ZOA Israel A letter ZOA Israel had composed for continued to foster cooperative relationships Israeli Druze Deputy Minister Ayoub Kara and involving political leaders, professional addressed to House Speaker John Boehner— and citizen activists, journalists, Christian perturbed as Kara was about the fate of supporters and student advocates on both Druze brothers in Syria—was met wherever sides of the Atlantic. we shared it with deep concern. Israel Training the next generation has gained meanwhile threatened to cease treating

34 ISRAEL OFFICE

wounded Syrians in its hospitals should so much as a fnger touch the Druze civilians. This appears to be working. Ira Forman, the U.S. Department of State’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti- Semitism, attended our State Department meeting, continuing the discussion about labeling Jerusalem attacks as terrorism and anti-Semitism. During the Mount of Olives briefng we had given him and consulate ofcials a few weeks before, Forman witnessed the extensive damage left by whipped-up Palestinian youth and got an earful from us about the true root cause. At U.S. Consul Michael Ratney’s Senator John Boozman (R-AR) with Jef Daube and ZOA student leader- combination farewell/July 4th reception, ship mission alumnus Derek Silver he publicly criticized the “heinous” grave desecrations that we had shown him on his own edifying tour. He also confded that PA pitched in, penning a letter to the parade If Israel ever Religious Afairs Minister Mahmoud Habash organizers together with United With Israel had refused to issue the condemnations we on behalf of protesting American Israelis. were to be were asking for. ZOA Israel took its BDS-fghting program shrunken into Syndicated radio host Denice Gary- on the road, focused on saving Jerusalem- Pandol, highly appreciative of the Jerusalem Judea-Samaria. We further engaged activists just a nine-mile introduction we organized for her frst in Israeli communities with large American width, Iran visit, admitted she had not fully integrated populations; in Great Neck and in Brooklyn, the difculties before seeing the situation New York; and in London’s Golders Green. could deliver frsthand. We also brought Gary-Pandol Back in Jerusalem, we also discussed pro- warheads to to the Judean community of Susiya, in Israel synergies with missions from Honest Israel-controlled Area C, where European Reporting, AFSI and CIPAC. its essential Union (EU) logos, fags and signs faunt the Then, segueing as we were from road system, EU’s fnancing of encroaching, illegal Arab one executive abuse to another, we also structures. Israel’s Supreme Court had mentioned Sokolow v. PLO, the terrorism case efectively ordered the encampment’s dismantling, against the PA and the Palestine Liberation cutting the inducing U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D- Organization in which last February, a CA) to write a disapproving letter to Prime Manhattan federal jury awarded the plaintif— country in half. Minister Netanyahu. ZOA Israel’s good American victims and their families—a verdict friend, MK Bezalel Smotrich, debunked her totaling $655.5 million. The PA/PLO’s appeal misinformation in a masterful response. of the verdict is causing added pain and Deputy Minister Hotovely and the Voice distress — compounded by the Departments of Israel audience each heard Richard Allen, of State and Justice, which are siding with American anti-BDS activist par excellence, the terrorists. Former Arkansas Governor together with ZOA Israel describe the Mike Huckabee thanked us for our advocacy infltration of radical progressives into Jewish on the victims’ behalf, and thanked National organizations. Allen has led the multi-year President Morton Klein and Center for Law campaign to exclude groups such as the New and Justice Director Susan Tuchman for Israel Fund from using the Celebrate Israel holding Attorney General Loretta Lynch to her Parade in Manhattan as a fg leaf for their pledge to “always...protect not just American anti-Israel agenda. This year, ZOA Israel had citizens but also American values.”

35 Around the Country

ZOA Florida Executive Director Sharona Whisler with the mayor of Ariel and his wife, Eli and Oraya Shaviro

Te day the while signing up new members. Also in May, Whisler and other community leaders, Iran deal was Florida including Florida State Attorney Pam Bondi, signed, ZOA Events and Actions attended the Israeli Consulate’s Israel ZOA Florida Executive Director Sharona Celebration. Florida got to Whisler campaigned for ZOA’s slate in the In June, a shopper at Publix supermarket work, blasting World Zionist Congress elections, while discovered a box of Kedem-brand crackers tabling and promoting the ZOA at several plastered with a BDS sticker promoting talking points events this year. Her eforts garnered Whisler anti-Semitic lies about Israel. A photo and urging the votes to serve as a ZOA delegate at the of the box, shared on social media, was upcoming World Zionist Congress in Israel viewed thousands of times. In a letter to members this October. Publix’s president, Whisler apprised him of to contact ZOA Florida participated in the Yom the incident and urged that the matter be Ha’atzmaut celebration at the Michael Ann investigated, while also thanking him for their repre- Russell JCC in North Miami Beach. We also selling goods from Israel. Publix responded sentatives co-sponsored the Israeli American Council’s that they had investigated the issue and “Celebrate Israel Festival,” which drew found it to be an isolated incident. Kedem to vote against about 5,000 people. Tabling at the event, owner David Herzog was copied on the letter the deal. Whisler conducted a Zionist trivia activity and expressed his gratitude to ZOA.

36 ZOA AROUND THE COUNTRY

Shortly after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran was announced, ZOA Florida co-sponsored an event in memory of the July 18, 1994, Iranian-funded terrorist attack on the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Eighty-fve people were killed and hundreds wounded in the attack. Whisler lit a candle in memory of the victims. The commemoration was especially poignant in light of the murder of Alberto Nisman earlier this year. Nisman, the fearless prosecutor who had spent years investigating the bombing, had accused Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, only days before his murder, of covering up Iran’s involvement in the attack. The event’s tragic mood was compounded by news that Iran would receive $150 billion as part of the JCPOA, funds that will go toward further terrorism against Jews. The day the deal with Iran was signed, ZOA Florida got to work, blasting talking points and urging ZOA members to contact their representatives to vote against the deal. Whisler continued sending updates and guiding the Florida community on how best to make the case against the deal Boycott sticker on Jewish-owned Kedem product found at a Florida Publix when speaking with lawmakers, and she supermarket visited the local ofces of members of the U.S. Congress. In addition to ZOA’s talking points, Whisler included highlights from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s live webcast. ZOA Florida was a main organizer of the Stop serves as president of the Yiddish Artists Iran 535 rally at Congresswoman Debbie & Friends Actors Club (for over 27 years) Wasserman Schultz’s local ofce. and the Yiddish Theatrical Alliance; and is vice-president of Young Israel of Aventura. New ZOA Florida Board He has served on the boards of directors Members at the National Yiddish Theater-Folksbiene; Corey Breier is an ofcer of the Miami Habonim Cultural Club; Survivors of the Dade Republican Party and also serves Holocaust - Second Generation; Yom as the elected committee person of the Hashoah & Kristallnacht Committee; and Republican Executive Committee, serving Miami Holocaust Memorial. He is a founder District 1 (Northeast Miami Dade). He is very of the Founding Foster Care Fund of the active at the Miami Jewish Health Systems Humane Society of Greater Miami; Friendship (formerly the Miami Jewish Home at Douglas Circle of Greater Miami; Footlighter’s Club Gardens) Founders Club; vice-president at of Florida; Republican Jewish Coalition MJHS Men’s Club; and an involved volunteer Leadership Council; and Chabad of Queens at the Gift of the Heart Society. Breier also College Advisory Board.

37 ZOA AROUND THE COUNTRY

to enable small and midsize enterprises to succeed in today’s digital age. A committed Zionist his entire life, Hamaoui was an active member of the South American Zionist organization, Chazit Hanoar, while growing up in Brazil. He looks forward to rededicating his free time to Zionist activities. Shoshanna Stein is founder and CEO of Zeak Ventures, a merchandise distribution company. She is also a founder of Miami United for Israel, a group that came together a year ago to show support for Israel during Operation Protective Edge and resulted in a rally attended by 5,000 people. She currently manages a popular Facebook group that shares information about local pro-Israel events and initiatives. Stein is also active in the young leadership division of American Friends of the IDF and the Israeli American Council. ZOA Florida Executive Director with Florida's State's Attorney, Pam Bondi ZOA Florida welcomes its newest board members and looks forward to an exciting season of Zionist activities, events and growth. Eyal Sharon was born in Israel and moved To get involved, please contact Sharona to the U.S. when he was 15 years old. He Whisler at [email protected]. studied political science at Temple University, where he participated in a certifcate program specializing in political economy. At Temple, Sharon was involved in campus advocacy for Israel, and was among the founders of Michigan Temple Students for Israel. After graduation, Israel Education Workshop he returned to Israel to complete his military In February, high school students from service and served in an artillery combat both public and Jewish day schools around unit. He returned to the U.S. to attend law Metro Detroit participated in ZOA-MI’s half- school at Florida State University and clerked day Israel Education Workshop. Students with the antitrust division of the Ofce of the learned about Israel’s history, Jewish Attorney General of Florida. He is currently heritage and advocating for Israel from an associate in the commercial litigation knowledgeable guest speakers. Participants department of Greenspoon Marder, a Fort in the workshop were eligible to apply for Lauderdale-based frm. In addition to his scholarships, to be used toward the cost of litigation practice, Sharon is working on year-long or summer educational programs building an Israel practice group that focuses in Israel. The ZOA-MI is happy to educate on the needs of Israeli clients both in Israel these future Jewish leaders and help support and the U.S. their travels to Israel. Allen Hamaoui is a senior partner at Computer Solutions East, a leading Anti-Semitism on College information technology company that ofers Campuses innovative computer services and products In April, Susan Tuchman, director of the

38 ZOA AROUND THE COUNTRY

ZOA Michigan members enjoy the pro-Israel barbecue event

ZOA's Center for Law and Justice, spoke passage of the Iran nuclear agreement. As in front of a Michigan crowd about the part of our eforts to encourage Michigan challenges facing Jewish students at the representatives to vote no, ZOA led the way University of Michigan and other college for a rally against the deal. Americans on campuses, and discussed the diferent ways both sides of the aisle participated in the to help and empower pro-Israel students. rally and voiced their strong opposition to the deal. Iran and ISIS In May, ZOA-MI hosted Ryan Mauro, Young Adult Events a national security analyst for the Clarion In July, ZOA-MI held a very successful Project, a nonproft organization that young adult barbecue. The event, which educates the public about the threat of was attended by over 100 participants Islamic extremism and provides a platform from a variety of backgrounds, honored for voices of moderation and tolerance community members leaving for a within the Muslim community. Mauro summer trip to Israel. We saw many new spoke about Iran and ISIS and their growing faces and ate some delicious barbecue, infuence in the Middle East. He also and everyone had a chance to learn discussed the nuclear negotiations with Iran about ZOA and Israel advocacy in a casual and their dangerous potential impact on the atmosphere. region and threat to world security. This event is part of our ongoing eforts to promote education, awareness and support Iran Rally for Israel and Jewish causes among our ZOA-MI worked tenaciously to prevent younger generation.

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ZOA New Jersey screened the flm, " Crossing the Line 2. " Te flm exposes the threatening and hateful anti-Israel movement on college campuses today and demonstrates the disturbing impact of campus anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism on Jewish students.

[We] plan ZOA-NJ Executive Director Laura to introduce New Jersey Fein spoke at several recent events. She ZOA-NJ was well represented at ZOA’s was invited to Fairlawn to speak on the intensive, Annual Mission in Washington, DC, where Israeli election results on the day the new multi-part delegates met with the stafs of both New government was announced. A large, lively Jersey senators and several representatives. crowd enjoyed up-to-the-minute news of courses The New Jersey delegation included both the government’s composition and positions that will new and familiar faces, as well as several and received a thorough analysis of the likely middle- and high-school students who took impact on Israel’s relations with its neighbors make ZOA’s the time to attend. The students were able and the U.S. Gerry Kessel, Gary Baskind and excellent to participate fully thanks to the excellent Elayne Kalina organized the event. training video and talking points provided by Fein also spoke at a parlor meeting campus Dan Pollack and Josh London, co-directors of in Ridgewood, hosted by Jamie Kreitman programs the ZOA’s Government Relations Department. and Jason Rosenfeld. Attendees enjoyed Recent local events include the screening homemade treats and mingled, then listened available in May of Crossing the Line 2 in Teaneck, to a presentation by Fein on current issues to the high followed by a panel that included Susan facing Israel and the Jewish people and a Tuchman, director of ZOA’s Center for Law review of current activities in the ZOA’s “Four school and Justice, and Zach Stern, national director C” advocacy programs: Congress, courts, audience. of campus programs, as well as student campus and community. leader Justin Hayet, who appears in the flm. The flm exposes the threatening and hateful Iran Deal Contra Eforts anti-Israel movement on college campuses Working to defeat the disastrous Iran today and demonstrates the disturbing deal has been a focus for ZOA-NJ this impact of campus anti-Semitism and anti- summer. ZOA-NJ members met with their Zionism on Jewish students. The panelists congressional representatives and stafers discussed their own experiences, advising and attended numerous meetings, town attendees on how to react to campus hate halls and press conferences across the state, and ofering assistance and programming for including in Margate, Newark, Milburn, those seeking to combat such hatred. Thanks South Orange and New Brunswick. Fein to Dr. Ali Blech and ZOA-NJ board member also authored pieces that ran in The Jewish Patty Borodach for their help. Standard and The Jewish Link, urging the

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community to call, write, rally and make every possible efort to defeat the deal. National Director of Special Projects Liz Berney addressed an appreciative audience in Parsippany, and Fein addressed a packed room in Ventnor with detailed and inspiring presentations on the details of the JCPOA and what can and must be done to defeat it. Thanks to Temple Beth Am and Chabad of Ventnor for their hospitality and enthusiasm. Signifcantly, ZOA-NJ leaders were instrumental in the planning and execution of the Stop Iran Rally in Times Square, which drew over 10,000 people. Speakers included Professor Alan Dershowitz, Lieutenant Colonel Allen West, journalist Caroline Glick and many others. Check it out on YouTube. The rally’s impact was swiftly felt, and shortly after, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced his trail-blazing opposition to the deal. ZOA-NJ board member Paul Ferbank served as chief marshall and key planner of this event, which was made possible by the many volunteers who called synagogues, helped to publicize, solicited sponsors and donations, and attended the rally. We particularly want to thank summer interns NJ-ZOA Executive Director Laura Fein with ZOA DC Mission delegates Hana Fusman of West Orange and Miriam Reichman of Teaneck. ZOA-NJ board member Naomi Vilko has organized a series of excellent programs at Congregation B’nai Tikvah in North the facts and the tactics needed to defeat Working to Brunswick. Ken Abramowitz, who spoke Israel’s detractors. We will continue holding at the most recent ZOA convention; and individual programs on the topic, as these defeat the Phyllis Chesler, renowned for her incisive have been extremely popular, but plan to disastrous writings on anti-Semitism and Israel. Thanks introduce intensive, multi-part courses that to Rabbi Wolkof and the CBT leadership, will make ZOA’s excellent campus programs Iran deal who are committed to presenting Zionist available to the high school audience. has been a programming that educates and inspires. Our local website (nj.zoa.org) launched ZOA-NJ has also been busy behind the this August, providing our community with focus for scenes. With the strong support of several an easy way to learn more and get involved ZOA-NJ board members, including ZOA National at the local level. Finally, we continue to build Board member Dr. Ben Chouake, ZOA-NJ relationships with media, elected ofcials this summer has formed a committee to efect change and Jewish groups across the state and look at the high-school level. We have begun forward to bringing programs to an ever- meeting with administrators at Jewish high expanding network. schools to collaborate on ways to better If you would like to volunteer, host a prepare students for what they will face on parlor meeting or bring a speaker, please college campuses by educating them on both contact [email protected]. We look forward to

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attended the New York Metro chapter’s frst young professionals spring mixer, which was held at a beautiful penthouse home with rooftop views of downtown Manhattan. The evening, aptly themed “Zionism in Full Bloom, A Spring Mixer,” featured a tasting of Israeli wines, provided by the Israel Wine Producers Assn., and high-end hors d’oeuvres, as well as a talk by Amir Sagie, Israel’s deputy consul general in New York. The evening was extremely well received and led to the formation of a young professionals committee for the chapter, with events and social media initiatives already in formation for the year to come. In addition to the young professionals mixer, the New York Metro chapter sponsored a number of events around the city. On May 3, we held a screening of “Body & Soul, The State of the Jewish Nation” at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, followed ZOA New Jersey student delegates pose in the Capitol at the ZOA DC Mis- by comments from the flm’s director, Gloria sion Greenfeld. On May 17, Executive Director Eytan Sosnovich was invited to Young Israel of Scarsdale to deliver a breakfast briefng 70 young partnering for the beneft of Israel and the on Israel’s recent elections. The same day, Jewish people! the chapter facilitated a panel discussion on Zionists Zionism in America at the Hebrew Institute attended of Riverdale that included ZOA Director of Special Projects Liz Berney. the New New York In June, Eytan gave talks on Zionism and York Metro the signifcance of Judea and Samaria at the The New York Metro chapter is thrilled Zionism Museum and Education Center in chapter’s to announce the formal appointments Brooklyn and at Congregation Ohab Zedek in frst young of our leadership. Rubin Margules, ZOA Manhattan. national board member and leader of the With the Iran deal looming, the New York professionals ZOA Brooklyn region, has been appointed Metro chapter took to the streets in the spring mixer chairman. Melissa Jane (MJ) Kronfeld has summer months. We were core members been appointed co-president along with of the Jewish Rapid Response Coalition, a which was Marvin Belsky, who has been a ZOA activist cadre of dedicated activists and organizations held at a for 26 years. MJ is also serving as our young motivated to take action against the deal. professionals chair. Together, the coalition organized the Stop beautiful These appointments come on the heels Iran rally in Times Square, which drew penthouse of the creation of our frst-ever New York an estimated 15,000 people. The group Metro board and the launch of our website also held Stop Iran rallies in front of the with rooftop (nyc.zoa.org), where you can fnd local ofces of Senator Kirstin Gillibrand and views of events, announcements, news, galleries and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. Notably, more. Congresswoman Maloney announced her Manhattan. In May, approximately 70 young Zionists opposition to the deal the following day.

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Philadelphia ZOA leaders present a certifcate to the McMenamin Family, owners of a ShopRite supermarket ofering Philadel- phia’s widest selection of Israeli goods. Philadelphia ZOA has an ongoing regional “Buy Israel” initiative. Taking part (from left) are Howard Katzof; Steve Feldman; Sean McMenamin, president of McMenamin Family ShopRite; Bria McMenamin, vice-president of administration for the frm; Gene Shusman; and ShopRite mashgiach Moshe Suissa. Not pictured: patriarch Richard McMenamin, who founded “Kosher on the Boulevard” in the supermarket, where Israeli goods are sold.

The New York Metro chapter has a pro-Israel student group at Drexel University, number of initiatives in the works for winter who received our new The Future Is Now and spring. Visit our website (nyc.zoa.org), or Award as a young leader; and National contact us by email ([email protected]) or phone ZOA Development Director and former (917-408-3433) to fnd out about upcoming Philadelphia ZOA Co-President Howard events and to learn how you can become Katzof and his wife, Patti Klein Katzof, who more involved. received our Pillars of the Community Award. We congratulate the honorees and thank them for their eforts on behalf of Israel, the United States and the U.S.-Israel relationship. In May, we presented a security forum at Philadelphia Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, entitled The Greater Philadelphia District honored “Protect Your Family, Yourself, Your Home.” six leading Zionists and advocates for Israel The panel included Jonathan Goldstein, at our Annual Gala on October 21. This year’s certifed National Rife Association instructor honorees included author and columnist and legal authority on guns; Alan Feldman, Jack Engelhard, who received the Ben Hecht an expert on Krav Maga, the IDF self-defense Award for Outstanding Journalism; Rabbi Ira technique; and Mark Genatempo, training Budow, director of Abrams Hebrew Academy and outreach director for the Secure in Yardley, and his wife, Susan Fuchs, who Community Network. received the Guardians of Israel Award; In August, we sponsored a “Q & A With Shani Weiss, founder of Dragons for Israel, a ZOA” at Beth Sholom Congregation in Elkins

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[Philadelphia Park. Discussing aspects of ZOA’s mission carries Philadelphia’s widest selection of were Philadelphia ZOA leaders Gene goods from Israel. ZOA] hon- Shusman, chairman of the board; Lee Bender ored the and Kevin Ross, co-presidents; and Steve Feldman, executive director. A freewheeling McMenamin question-and-answer session followed. Pittsburgh family, The evening concluded with a discussion about advocacy to dissuade Congress from ZOA-Pittsburgh Takes On the owners of approving the Iran deal. Post-Gazette the ShopRite Some 70 members from our region The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PG) is known participated in the National ZOA Pro-Israel for its anti-Israel positions and attacks on Supermarket Capitol Hill Mission in April. For the frst time, the Jewish state. Over the years, prominent on Haldeman we needed a second bus to get everyone to businesspeople and Jewish leaders have met Washington, DC. with the PG’s editors, asking them to show Avenue as Philadelphia ZOA members met with more understanding and soften the paper’s part of its Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-PA) to position, to no avail. Within the community, request that he vote against the Iran nuclear the PG’s animosity toward Israel has become ongoing deal. Taking part were Lee Bender and Kevin a given. “Buy Israel” Ross, Vice-President Roberta Dzubow and ZOA members often called Pittsburgh Steve Feldman. Boyle told us that he would Executive Director Stuart Pavilack to alert him initiative. Te not only vote to oppose the Iran deal, but to hateful editorials. Pavilack followed the McMenamin also vote to override a veto. Two days later, PG editorials, and fnally said, “Enough.” In the congressman published a strong op-ed February 2014, Pavilack contacted CAMERA, store carries in The Philadelphia Inquirer elaborating on his the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Philadelphia’s reasons for opposing the deal. Reporting in America. Working together for Lee Bender and Vice-President Jerry Verlin a year, and with Pavilack feeding CAMERA widest made a number of presentations in the outrageous PG editorials, a representative selection of region exposing anti-Israel media bias. Steve body of work was compiled. Senior CAMERA Feldman spoke frequently as well, including a analyst Steve Stotsky and Pavilack selected goods from talk at the closing dinner of the Men’s Club of numerous examples of the PG’s errors, bias Israel. Har Zion Temple. He also taught a continuing and slander against Israel. In a fve-page education class for the Golden Slipper Club letter to the paper’s editors and owners, they & Charities. Bender and Feldman penned identifed the many problems, supplied the articles published in a variety of publications, facts, and asked for a meeting where these and Feldman guested on The Dom Giordano issues could be discussed. Executive Editor Show and The Gary R’nel Show, both on Dan Simpson refused. WPHT-AM 1210. Then, in an April 8 opinion piece on the In addition, Philadelphia ZOA is producing Iran deal, Simpson pointed the fnger at a documentary, tentatively entitled “Past & those whom he labeled “Jewish-American Present,” that will shine a light on veteran extremists” for allegedly making campaign members and activists. The idea is to capture contributions to U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R- their recollections of earlier days of pro-Israel AR). “I would say Simpson has gone beyond advocacy, so that their deeds and spirit may what we deal with in The New York Times,” inspire younger members. said Stotsky in the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. The regional chapter also honored the “There are certainly undertones suggesting McMenamin family, owners of the ShopRite an animus against Jews and their support for Supermarket on Haldeman Avenue in Israel. And there is no substantiation. What Philadelphia, as part of its ongoing “Buy way are these people ‘extremists’? He doesn’t Israel” initiative. The McMenamin store say.”

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ZOA-Pittsburgh board member Dr. Cyril Wecht has written many letters to the PG charging that its coverage of Israel and the Middle East is biased and inaccurate. “This is not new with the Post-Gazette or with editor Dan Simpson,” Wecht said. “He does not miss an opportunity to criticize Israel, even when the subject is not really Israel. Some of his comments are outright unvarnished and completely horrifc attacks on Israel. Others are just slipped in.” The struggle continues, and while nothing has changed at the PG, the number of anti- Israel editorials has greatly diminished. ZOA board members and Pavilack have written many letters to the editor and submitted High school students take part in the ZOA-sponsored tolerance education op-ed pieces. While the PG’s editors have program printed only a few, they know the ZOA is watching.

Tolerance Education school students is priceless,” said May-Stein. Program Continues Through the trips, “the Holocaust becomes ZOA-Pittsburgh continues to educate high tangible. It’s an experience you can’t duplicate school students about the need for respect, in a textbook, a video, or a project.” understanding and tolerance of others, Josh Rice, who has taught social studies regardless of race, religion or background. at Carrick High School since 1997, has Using the horrors and inhumanity of the chaperoned the Tolerance Education trip to Holocaust as an example, the program Washington several times. He has witnessed teaches students about the plight of six the profound impact that a visit to the million Jews during WWII, and helps students Holocaust Museum has had on the students. become better citizens, employees and “I believe when they walk into the museum, leaders of the future. they have a pre-conceived conception of what Some 500 students and 70 teacher/ the Holocaust is,” Rice said. “But they can’t chaperones from the Pittsburgh Public truly visualize it until they walk through that School District boarded 10 buses rail car. The images drive home what we try last February and March to visit the to educate them about,” he continued. “The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in kids start to see the people for who they are.” Washington, DC. These students had The trips to the museum continue to enhance studied the Holocaust in their 10th grade Rice’s own knowledge of the Holocaust, he social studies class and qualifed for the trip said, and make him a better teacher. under guidelines established by the school “The program is phenomenal,” said district. Michael Dreger, the director of social studies David May-Stein, assistant for Pittsburgh Public Schools. “We have a unit superintendent of the Pittsburgh Public on World War II and on the Jewish Holocaust, Schools and an advocate for the program, and this trip enhances and supports what the believes the visit to the museum takes the students learn in the curriculum. It could be students’ understanding far above the level life-changing for some of our students. It’s a which can be attained in a classroom. “The very powerful experience.” gift the ZOA is giving to Pittsburgh public The Tolerance Education Program

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Te gift the Esman, and the family of the late Natalie and ZOA is giving Ivan Novick, who have funded the ZOA Israel Scholarship Program. to Pittsburgh Under the guidance of Chairwoman public school Phyllis Novick Silverman, scholarship committee members evaluated each students is student’s application, looking at their priceless,” said participation in Jewish studies and activities, David May- their volunteerism, and their essays on “What the State of Israel and Zionism mean to me.” Stein, assistant ZOA-Pittsburgh is pleased to announce superintendent. scholarships for 2015. Sam Impellicceiri, Leo Julian and Jonathan Levy were each awarded Trough the $1,000. Omar Tolentino, Yael Itskowitz, trips, “the Devora Itkin and Sarah Einav were awarded $250 each. Holocaust becomes Jef L. Pollock, new president of ZOA Pittsburgh ZOA-Pittsburgh Elects tangible. It’s an New President Jef L. Pollock of Squirrel Hill was recently experience you elected to a two-year term as president of can’t duplicate ZOA-Pittsburgh. Pollock has been on the is conducted in cooperation with the board and served the last six years as a vice- in a textbook, Pittsburgh Public Schools and the Holocaust president, and has been actively involved in a video, or a Center of Greater Pittsburgh, with support many aspects of ZOA in Pittsburgh, project." from the City of Pittsburgh, individuals, Since 1989, Pollock has been a solo foundations and businesses. There is no practitioner and mediator at the Law cost to students or the school district. “This & Mediation Ofce of Jefrey L. Pollock, opportunity gives our kids a chance to be Esq. He focuses on family law, with a better people in the world at the end of the smaller concentration in criminal defense day,” May-Stein said. and entertainment law. When he is not practicing law he can often be found on ZOA Scholarships to Israel stage and screen. He has a long list of credits Announced from theater productions, movies and Since the founding of its Israel commercials. Scholarship Program in 1962, ZOA-Pittsburgh Pollock said, “It is an honor to be has helped hundreds of Pittsburgh Jewish entrusted with the position of ZOA- high school students travel to Israel on Pittsburgh president to help lead the eforts structured summer study programs. ZOA to enlighten our community. I plan to focus believes that visiting Israel allows students on clearing up/correcting unsubstantiated to experience Jewish history, understand the and unconscionable anti-Jewish positions role of Israel in Jewish life and helps cement and attacks, such as misplaced support for their Jewish identity. boycotts, divestment and sanctions, mistaken The program continues today through assumptions by Hamas apologists, misguided the vision of ZOA members who have funded acts of anti-Semitism, and misunderstood endowments dedicated to this efort. ZOA dangers to Western democracy caused by is deeply thankful to Avraham and Patti the evils of anti-U.S./anti-Israel terrorism.” Anouchi, Bernard and Esther Klionsky, Harold Pollock succeeds Ira Michael Frank and Marla Scheinman, the late Thelma who completed his third two-year term as

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president of ZOA-Pittsburgh. Frank is well ZOA-Pittsburgh known in the community and has been held a series involved with countless Jewish organizations. He was even president of two synagogues - of lectures simultaneously! During Frank’s presidency this summer. at ZOA–Pittsburgh, the chapter grew in membership, activity and visibility. At our Te frst semi-annual meeting, incoming President was given by Jefrey L. Pollock presented Frank with a Laurie Zittrain pewter havdalah set as a token of thanks. Eisenberg, Pittsburgh Lecture Series professor of ZOA-Pittsburgh held a series of lectures this summer. The frst was given by modern Middle Laurie Zittrain Eisenberg, professor of East history modern Middle East history at Carnegie Mellon University. Professor Eisenberg has at Carnegie researched and published on the Arab- Mellon Israeli confict and the peace process. Her University. Her presentation, “The Changing Shape of the ZOA Pittsburgh board member Dr. Cyril Wecht Middle East,” was about the history and presentation, the process of creating countries since the “Te Changing beginning of the 20th century. Next was a lecture by Alexander Orbach, Shape of the former longtime director of the Jewish Middle East,” Studies Program in the History Department was about the at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Orbach is now a core faculty member at the European history and Studies Center and the Center for Russian the process and East European Studies of the University Center for International Studies. In his of creating talk, “Partitioning Palestine: The Historical countries since Background of the Two State Idea,” Dr. Orbach detailed the background and history the beginning of the UN Partition Plan of 1947. of the 20th The fnal lecture, “The Legacy of century. Sepharad: New and Old Encounters between Spain and the Jews,” was given by Michal Rose Friedman, who teaches at Carnegie Mellon University in the History Department. A Fulbright scholar who received her Ph.D. from Columbia University and researched her dissertation in Spain, Professor Friedman Under Ira Frank's presidency, ZOA Pittsfurgh is a sabra who came to the U.S. as a grew in membership and visibility teenager. In her talk, she gave a history of the Jews in Spain and discussed their expulsion. She also reviewed recent Spanish laws inviting Jews back to Spain and the problems the laws have created.

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With the global rise of anti-Semitism, ZOA West identifed the need to teach the importance of Jewish self-defense, a core Zionist principle, to the local community. ZOA partnered with the Krav Maga Institute and Battle Tested Solutions to educate members on current threats to the Jewish community, and to enable them to better defend themselves.

of California (UC) Board of Regents (the Western Region governing body of the UC system) to do more Efective March 2015, David Kadosh to identify, prevent and address instances became the ZOA’s new executive director for of anti-Semitism, which are unfortunately the Western Region. Formerly the director so prevalent on UC campuses. Much of the of ZOA’s successful and expanding campus Jew-hatred on campus, and elsewhere in our department, David brings over six years society, is manifested through anti-Israel of ZOA experience to his new role. The rhetoric and actions. The ZOA has lobbied Western Region executive director’s mission the UC Regents on numerous occasions, has always been to engage the community, urging the Regents to educate the UC local college campuses and high schools in community about the many forms that anti- Israel activism, and to grow ZOA’s presence Semitism takes today, including anti-Israelism and membership. Since assuming his new and anti-Zionism that go beyond legitimate position, David has worked to meet these political discourse and cross the line into goals and to be a voice for strong and anti-Semitism. principled Zionism in the region. ZOA’s The ZOA has been stressing to the western regional ofce is specifcally based Regents that a crucial step toward in the San Francisco Bay Area because the eradicating anti-Semitism is understanding region desperately needs the leadership of what anti-Semitism is. Fortunately, the U.S. an organization that does not back down and State Department has adopted an excellent is unafraid to speak the truth about Israel working defnition of anti-Semitism that and its enemies. identifes when anti-Israel rhetoric crosses The ZOA has been fghting anti-Semitism the line into anti-Semitism. ZOA West and on college campuses across the nation the AMCHA Initiative are working closely for many years through the ZOA Campus to have the UC Regents adopt the State Department and Center for Law and Justice. Department’s defnition of anti-Semitism. In the Western Region, ZOA has embarked Should the Regents formally recognize that on a targeted efort with the AMCHA certain anti-Israel rhetoric is anti-Semitic, Initiative to regularly lobby the University this would set an important precedent

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for academic institutions throughout the country. Our eforts are being bitterly contested by anti-Israel groups such as the Center for Constitutional Rights, the National Lawyers Guild, and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). JVP has sponsored a petition with over 4,000 signatures against adopting the State Department’s defnition. JVP has also lobbied the State Department to change the defnition to remove any references to Israel. In order to better educate the community on the centrality of the Jewish people’s connection to the land of Israel, ZOA West organized three screenings of the documentary Body and Soul: The State of the Jewish Nation with the flm’s producer, Gloria Greenfeld, and Doc Emet Productions. The flm was screened in San Francisco and Walnut Creek and then premiered in Los ZOA West members learn how to better defend themselves and their com- Angeles. Each screening was well attended munity. and well received. ZOA West also hosted an internship program over summer break for the second consecutive year. Student interns contributed articles to ZOA’s campus the disastrous Iranian nuclear deal signed by Tere is a publication, The College Zionist, helped Iran, the P5+1 (the fve permanent members plan upcoming events in the region, and of the United Nations Security Council – the diference expanded ZOA’s social media presence. U.S., United Kingdom, China, France and between They attended a variety of meetings and Russia – plus Germany) and the European heard from speakers such as Tammi Union. legitimate Rossman-Benjamin of the AMCHA Initiative, Despite the fact that an overwhelming criticism of former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. majority of the Jewish community opposed Michael Oren, and representatives of the MZ the deal and the Israeli political system was Israel and Foundation. united across party lines against it, many hate speech With the global rise of anti-Semitism, Bay Area Jewish establishments tasked with ZOA West identifed the need to teach the representing the Jewish community refused beyond importance of Jewish self-defense, a core to participate in the Stop Iran Now rally. normal Zionist principle, to the local community. ZOA This did not deter ZOA West; with help from partnered with the Krav Maga Institute and grassroots volunteers, we recruited nearly 30 political Battle Tested Solutions to educate members organizations to join the rally as co-sponsors, discourse. on current threats to the Jewish community, fundraised to cover all expenses, directed the and to enable them to better defend advertising campaign and secured a diverse themselves. group of speakers – from radio personalities The ZOA is the voice of the Jewish to academics, Jews and Christians, and community when other organizations will individuals across the political spectrum. not speak up. This summer, ZOA West was The Zionist Organization of America is a that voice in the Bay Area, spearheading necessary voice in the Western Region and preparations for a public rally opposing the will continue to engage the whole of the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA), community in strong Zionist activism.

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Israel Trade Enhancement Act of 2015 (S.619) and Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Juan Vargas (D-CA) for sponsoring the United States-Israel Trade and Commercial Enhancement Act of 2015 (HR.825). In addition, ZOA strongly praises HR.825’s thirty-seven co-sponsors. ZOA also praises Senators Cardin and Portman for annexing this anti-boycott legislation as an amendment to a bill currently in the Senate Finance Committee. The proposed legislation is an excellent, important step to counteract the tide of vicious, discriminatory BDS directed at Jews and Israel and Israel’s American and other trading partners. The bills are also very praiseworthy for condemning boycotts targeted at Israeli-controlled territories. “Te proposed ZOA Praises Israeli Supreme legislation is Court Ruling BDS Against Why is President Obama Silent Israel, Judea/Samaria Is Illegal on Muslim Terror Attack in an excellent, BDS Group Hatikvah Must Be Texas? important step Disqualifed From WZC Elections In a UN speech, Obama said: “The future to counteract The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) must not belong to those who slander the the tide of strongly praises the Israeli Supreme Court for prophet of Islam.” upholding Israel’s anti-boycott law in the case The deafening silence of President vicious, entitled: HCJ 2072/12, The Coalition of Women Barack Obama after the terrorist attack by discriminatory for Peace, et al. v. The Minister of Finance, et al. two Islamic jihadists from Arizona on 200 (decision delivered April 15, 2015). The Israeli innocent Americans at a “Draw the Prophet” boycotts, Supreme Court held that it is proper to deny event in Garland, Texas is deeply disturbing divestment and benefts to and penalize those seeking to and perplexing. Such Islamic extremists undermine the State of Israel using boycotts, claim that under Muslim Sharia law, the sanctions (BDS) divestment and sanctions (BDS) against all death penalty must be invoked against directed at or part of Israel and the 700,000 Jews having anyone who draws images of the prophet businesses in or living beyond the 1949 Muhammed. A massacre was prevented only Jews and Israel Armistice lines in eastern Jerusalem and the because a heroic security guard killed the two and Israel’s Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria. terrorists before they were able to enter the building where the event was taking place. American and ZOA Praises Congress’s This was a terrorist attack by Americans other trading Anti-BDS Bill Which Includes against Americans, on American soil, and yet Judea/Samaria our President said nothing. He did not even partners. Anti-Israel J Street Opposes praise the policeman who saved dozens of Anti-BDS Bill lives. The President’s silence stands in stark The Zionist Organization of America contrast to his public reaction to the (ZOA) strongly praises Senators Ben incident involving an African-American Cardin (D-MD) and Rob Portman (R-OH) for Harvard professor arrested at his home by a sponsoring the bipartisan United States- policeman investigating a robbery report; to

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Trayvon Martin being killed in self-defense by George Zimmerman; and to Michael Brown’s killing in self-defense by Ofcer Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. Both Zimmerman and Wilson were acquitted. The President also commented on the recent Baltimore riots.

ZOA Praises Illinois for Passing Anti-BDS Bill, Including Judea/Samaria Legislation Opposes Boycotts Against Any Part of Israel, Including Eastern Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) strongly praises both houses of the Illinois legislature for unanimously passing anti-boycott bills HB4011 and SB1761, and strongly praises Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner for pledging to sign this important anti-boycott legislation. Governor Rauner President Janet Napolitano, former U.S. A massacre tweeted: “Looking forward to signing Secretary of Homeland Security and former was prevented #SB1761 making IL frst in the nation to Governor of Arizona, for personally agreeing fght BDS against Israel. Great work @ with the U.S. Department of State’s defnition only because a StateRepSara & Sen. Silverstein. Bruce of anti-Semitism, and for agreeing that the heroic security Rauner@GovRauner.” UC Regents should adopt the defnition. The The ZOA is especially pleased that the State Department recognizes that denying guard killed the Illinois legislation prohibits Illinois pension Israel’s right to exist, demonizing Israel (by, two terrorists funds from investing in companies that for example, comparing Israeli policy to that engage in boycotts targeted at Jewish and of the Nazis), and applying double standards before they Israeli businesses in any part of Israel, to Israel (by requiring of the Jewish State were able including the historic Jewish areas of a behavior not demanded of any other eastern Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. The country), is anti-Semitic. to enter the Illinois legislation provides that “boycott building where Israel” means “engaging in actions that ZOA Appalled By Pres. Obama are politically motivated and are intended Ruling Out Military Action the “Draw the to penalize, infict economic harm on, or Against Islamic Republic of Prophet” event otherwise limit commercial relations with Iran the State of Israel or companies based in the Obama Falsely Claimed “All Options was taking State of Israel or in territories controlled by Are On The Table” place. the State of Israel.” The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) ZOA Praises U. Calif. President is shocked and deeply critical of President – Endorsed State Dept. Barack Obama’s statement, in an interview Defnition of Anti-Semitism on Israeli TV, that military action against Iran that Includes Anti-Israelism would be inefective in preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power. This statement The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) contradicts his repeated commitments since strongly praises University of California (UC) before becoming president that “all options

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nothing less than outright anti-Semitism, and has called upon Coca-Cola to immediately and publicly condemn and repudiate his remarks.

ZOA Opposes Vatican Decision To Recognize Non-Existent State of “Palestine”

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has opposed the decision of the Vatican to recognize “Palestine”—a non-existent state, declared by Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestinian Authority (PA) and admitted as a non- member state to the UN in violation of the Oslo Accords, which proscribes unilateral ZOA has are on the table” in seeking to prevent Iran moves and requires Israeli/Palestinian condemned from becoming a nuclear power. Clearly, negotiated agreements to serve as the basis when the President publicly states that a of a fnal peace settlement. Zahi Khouri, course of action would be inefective, he is, in The ZOA believes that this decision is CEO of Coca- essence, removing it from the list of options nothing less than recognition of a racist, of what he is prepared to do. unreconstructed terror Hamas/Fatah Cola Palestine In his interview on Israel TV with Ilana terrorist state. As we stated in May when [sic], for urging Dayan, President Obama stated, “I can, I this decision was pending, recognition of think, demonstrate—not based on any hope, ‘Palestine’ by the Vatican will fortify the an economic but on facts and evidence and analysis—that Palestinian Arab leaders’ intransigent refusal boycott of the the best way to prevent Iran from having to negotiate with Israel to end hostilities, a nuclear weapon is a verifable, tough to end incitement to hatred and murder in Jewish State of agreement. A military solution will not fx the PA-controlled media, mosques, schools Israel, which it, even if the United States participates. It and youth camps, to recognize Israel as the would temporarily slow down an Iranian Jewish State, and to remove Hamas and is nothing less nuclear program, but it will not eliminate other internationally designated terrorist than outright it.” (Ilana Dayan, ‘Obama talks on Israeli TV organizations from their unity government. about Netanyahu, Israel and David Blatt anti-Semitism [TRANSCRIPT],’ Jewish Journal (New York), ZOA: Why Is President Obama June 2, 2015). Stopping Arabs States From Arming Kurds To Fight ISIS? ZOA Condemns Coca-Cola Why Does Obama Show Sympathy to CEO Khouri’s Anti-Semitic Radical Islamists Call For Sanctions Against The Jewish State The Zionist Organization of America Urges Coca-Cola To Repudiate (ZOA), following reports that President Khouri’s Comments Obama is blocking the eforts of various Arab states to arm the Kurds to fght the Islamic The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), is asking the has condemned Zahi Khouri, CEO of Coca- question—Why is President Obama stopping Cola Palestine [sic], for urging an economic Arab states from arming Kurds to fght ISIS? boycott of the Jewish State of Israel, which is The Kurdish Peshmerga forces, despite

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having only makeshift heavy weapons, ZOA has have successfully fought ISIS at various praised and points, including having prevented ISIS from capturing Erbil, the largest city and capital of welcomed the Iraqi Kurdistan. Kurdish fghters have also decision of also helped to prevent ISIS from taking over parts of Iraq’s north-west region. the General Yet, according to reports, the Obama Convention of Administration is blocking airlifts of heavy weapons to the Kurds by Arab states. the Episcopal Also, millions of dollars’ worth of weapons Church in the which have been bought by a number of European countries to arm the Kurds are United States to being blocked by American commanders, reject a motion who are overseeing all military operations against ISIS. High level ofcials from Persian endorsing the Gulf states and other states in the Middle discriminatory East have said that all attempts to persuade President Obama of the need to arm the anti-Israel BDS Episcopal Church logo Kurds directly have fallen on deaf ears. movement ZOA Praises Episcopal Church For Voting Down BDS Resolutions Welcomes Mennonite Church Deferring The Zionist Organization of America BDS Vote For Two Years (ZOA) has expressed agreement with veteran African-American public intellectual, Stanford The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) University’s Hoover Institution Senior Fellow has praised and welcomed the decision of Thomas Sowell, that President Barack the General Convention of the Episcopal Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran caps a Church in the United States (1.8 million long list of foreign policy decisions that show members) to reject a motion endorsing the that he is not a defender of vital American discriminatory anti-Israel BDS movement. interests. In a statement today, ZOA National The ZOA has also welcomed the decision President Morton A. Klein said that he agreed by the Mennonite Church U.S.A. (95,000 with Mr. Sowell that President Obama’s members) to defer a vote on BDS until 2017. nuclear agreement with Iran could only lead to that reluctant conclusion. ZOA Criticizes Israeli Religious Afairs Min. Azoulay For ZOA Condemns Obama Admin. Saying That Reform Jews Are For Aiding PLO/PA In Terror Not Jews Case

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) Stanford’s Sowell: Nuke Deal criticized the Obama administration for Tells Us —“America’s Best aiding the Palestine Liberation Organization Interests Not Obama’s Top (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in a Priority” terrorism lawsuit pending in a federal court Saudi Prince Bandar: Obama Knowingly in New York, in which the jury found the Made A Bad Deal PLO and PA liable for millions of dollars in

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negotiating a resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue. If true, this means that President Barack Obama brazenly lied to the American public when his administration continued stating, after that date, that the U.S. demand an end to Iranian uranium enrichment activities.

Jury Verdict: PLO/PA Commits Murder Of Americans – Don’t Allow A PLO/PA Terrorist State

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) called on the Obama administration, Congress, the international community, and Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders Iranian armaments to categorically reject any United Nations proposal of Palestinian statehood, particularly after a Manhattan federal jury found, after a seven-week trial last February, that the Palestine Liberation Organization damages for their role in several terrorist (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) were Danny attacks in Israel that resulted in the murder liable for orchestrating six terrorist shootings Danon is a and maiming of innocent American citizens. and bombings in Israel between 2002 and The U.S. Department of Justice submitted 2004, which resulted in the death and principled and to the Court a “Statement of Interest of the maiming of dozens of American citizens and courageous United States of America,” urging the Court others (Sokolow v. PLO). Despite this latest to consider the harmful efect that a bond confrmation of the PLO/PA’s support for promoter of requirement would have on the PLO and the and promotion of terrorism against innocent the truth of the PA, after the PLO and PA claimed that they American citizens and others, the media could not aford to post a bond while their has reported that France is coordinating ongoing Arab appeal is pending. a UN initiative for Palestinian statehood war against with the United States. Even if the U.S. Obama Apparently Lied to U.S. does not endorse the initiative, the Obama Israel. All must Public: Accepted Iran’s “Right” administration reportedly might not veto a understand: To Enrich While Demanding It UN resolution. Cease Enrichment truth is not ZOA Applauds Appointment a political A report from the Middle East Media of Danny Danon as Israel’s UN and Research Institute (MEMRI) has Ambassador position. apparently brought to light the existence of a secret letter revealing that the Obama ZOA applauds the appointment of Administration secretly approached the Minister Danny Danon as Israeli Ambassador Iranian leadership in 2011, ofering to to the United Nations. recognize Iran’s alleged right to uranium Morton Klein, President of ZOA, issued enrichment—a right that does not exist the following statement: under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, “The ZOA has congratulated Prime which Iran signed—in return for Iran Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his inspired

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selection of Minister Danny Danon as Israel’s The majority of the Iran Deal rabbis Despite new Ambassador to the United Nations. come from the Soros-funded J Street. this latest ZOA also congratulates Danny Danon for (George Soros is a self-described anti-Zionist being appointed to this critically important billionaire.) Liberal Professor Alan Dershowitz confrmation post. It is especially critical during this time explained that J Street “always seems to be of the PLO/ of increased and inappropriate hostility taking positions that are anti-Israel.” to Israel around the world, and due to the PA’s support for catastrophe of the nuclear deal with the Israelis Oppose Iran Deal by 7 and promotion anti-Semitic, anti-American Islamic Republic – 1, Americans by 2 – 1 of Iran. Americans Oppose deal by 57% – 28%; of terrorism I have personally known Danny Danon for NY Hispanics Oppose Deal 45% - 27%; against innocent over 25 years. I frst met him when I was a NY Catholics Oppose Deal 58% - 26%; speaker for the international pro-Israel group Amer. Jews Oppose Deal by 58% - 26% American “Betar” at a retreat in the Pocono Mountains citizens and in 1990. Danny was international head of Betar. We maintained contact regularly, Latest Iran Deal Farce others, the both here and in Israel. I was a speaker at – Iranians to Inspect media has the numerous Christian Zionist events he Themselves – Threatened to organized around the United States. The Harm Inspectors reported that Christian attendees there frequently told me Iran Threatened Harm to IAEA Chief France is how impressed they were with Danny and Inspector if he Leaked Secret Deals - their hope that he will become Israel’s Prime Sounds Like a Deal with Mafa, Not a coordinating a Minister someday. Sovereign Country UN initiative Minister Danon and I have many mutual friends and he has spoken at ZOA’s dinners An exclusive Associated Press report for Palestinian on many occasions. has revealed a secret side deal to the Iran statehood with Danny is a principled and courageous nuclear agreement, signed last July 14, promoter of the truth of the ongoing Arab under which the UN nuclear watchdog, the United war against Israel. All must understand: truth the International Atomic Energy Agency States. is not a political position. (IAEA) has permitted Iran to use its own inspectors to deliver fndings on alleged Majority of 340 Pro-Iran-Deal prior military developments for explosive Rabbis are from J Street & nuclear triggers at the contested military Other Israel-Hostile Groups site of Parchin. 94% of U.S. Rabbis Did NOT Sign Pro- Shockingly, Iran’s Atomic Energy Iran-Deal Statement Organization spokesman, Behrouz Kamalvandi, told Iranian lawmakers: “In a The Zionist Organization of America letter to Yukimo Amano we underlined that (ZOA)’s analysis shows that the if the secrets of the agreement [roadmap overwhelming majority of the “340 Rabbis between Iran and the IAEA] are revealed for Iran Deal” come from groups that we will lose our trust in the agency; and routinely take positions and engage in despite the US Congress’s pressures, he activities that are hostile towards Israel [Amano] didn’t give any information to them and inimical to American interests. The [Congress]. Had he done so, he himself “340 Rabbis for Iran Deal” are a small fringe would have been harmed.” This was reported group. There are over 5,000 rabbis in the by Fars, Iran’s semi-ofcial news agency and United States. In other words, 94% of published in articles in the Times of Israel American rabbis did not sign the statement (Aug. 18, Tamar Pileggi) and Freebeacon.com, supporting the Iran deal. (Adam Kredo, Aug. 18.)

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